Acts 7:58

Cast him out. According to Lev. 24:14 the one to be stoned must be taken outside the camp, which, in the time of Stephen, meant outside the walls of Jerusalem.

Stoned him. Literally, “were stoning him,” as though the act of execution went on while the martyr was praying (vs. 59, 60). Stoning was the penalty for blasphemy under the Mosaic law (Lev. 24:14-16; see on John 8:7). But however closely the Sanhedrin may have been following this law, under the Romans they had no right to take life, particularly if Stephen was a Roman citizen (see on Acts 6:5). But Roman officials could be bribed into convenient silence (AA 98, 101). Pilate, who was still procurator (see Vol. V, pp. 67, 68), may have been out of the city at the time, but would be unlikely to interfere with the attack on Stephen after his humiliating experience at the trial of Jesus.

Laid down their clothes. The Law required that the accuser should be the first to use the deadly stones (Deut. 17:7; cf. on John 8:7). The loose flowing cloaks worn as outer garments would have impeded the free action of the arms of the executors, and hence were laid aside (cf. Acts 22:20).

Young man. Gr. neanias, “youth,” is used with great latitude for men between 20 and 40 years of age. The term, therefore, gives no help in determining the chronology of Paul’s life (cf. on Philemon 9:1). For a possible dating of Stephen’s martyrdom see p. 99.

Saul. For the meaning of the name see on 1 Sam. 9:2. For comment on Saul’s previous history, his presence at the martyrdom of Stephen, and subsequent change of name to Paul see Additional Note 2 at end of chapter.