And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60

A few days ago we considered the subject of dying well. Stephen certainly did die well. But note his last prayer. He prayed that the Lord would forgive those who stoned him to death for his faith in Christ. That is certainly contrary to what might be the cry of the flesh. The flesh cries out for deliverance, justice, and maybe even vengeance. Stephen cried out to God for grace—not for himself but for those bent on extinguishing his life.

Stephen not only lived for Christ (though possibly only for a short time preceding his death), he also died praying like Christ. No, Stephen was not crucified, he was stoned. But like Christ he pled with Heaven, even as he died, for God’s forgiveness to be granted to his Christ-hating executioners.

Jesus prayed, “Father forgiven them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Stephen in Christ-like manner prayed, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin" (v.60). May we likewise have words of prayer for the salvation of the lost on our lips when we die—especially if we should be called to persecution and martyrdom.