Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling on God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. From this prayer we infer — I. THAT MAN'S SOUL SURVIVES CORPOREAL DEATH. This was now a matter of consciousness with Stephen. He had no doubt about it, and hence he prays Jesus to take it. This is with all men rather a matter of feeling than argument. The Bible not only addresses this feeling, but ministers to its growth. II. THAT IN DEATH THE IMPORTANCE OF MAN'S SOUL IS ESPECIALLY FELT. The "spirit" was now everything to Stephen. And so it is to all dying men. Death ends all material interests and relations, and the soul grows more and more conscious of itself as it feels its approach to the world of spirits. III. THAT THE WELL-BEING OF THE SOUL CONSISTS IN ITS DEDICATION TO JESUS. "Receive my spirit." What does this mean? 1. Not the giving up of our personality. Such pantheism is absurd. 2. Not the surrender of our free agency. 3. But the placing of its powers entirely at Christ's service, and its destiny entirely at His disposal. This implies, of course, strong faith in the kindness and power of Jesus. IV. THAT THIS DEDICATION OF THE SOUL TO JESUS IS THE ONE GREAT THOUGHT OF THE EARNEST SAINT. It is the beginning and end of religion, or rather the very essence of it. The first breath, and every subsequent respiration, of piety is, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.WEB: They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" |
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