Lectionary Year A
April 28, 2002
Acts 7:55-60

Step II: Disposition
A. Genre

(JFC) This pericope is a narrative account of the stoning death of Stephen. It tells of the event in rather objective language, hardly expressing any emotions at all. The cries are emphasized duly, of course, but otherwise, it could be a narrative of any other kind of event in that day and time or even any other context.

B. Personal Interaction

(JFC) First, we might wonder why the lection begins in the second sentence in a paragraph of English translations. Next, of course, we have to question whether the Saul mentioned here is Saul of Tarsus, to become Paul the Apostle. Then, too, did Stephen really ask for the perpetrators' pardon or is this expression a later addition to this story?

C. Organization

(JFC) The first sentence in this paragraph is verse 54. The naming of Saul is in the 58th verse and Stephen's prayer for pardon is in the penultimate verse, the 59th.

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