When Stephen became the first Christian martyr, Luke preserved two powerful details about his death: Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59), and then Luke records, “he fell asleep” (Acts 7:60). These words, taken together, provide a unique glimpse into how the early church understood the death of believers.
Often these two statements are treated as if they conflict—either death is a conscious experience in the presence of Christ, or it is a state of sleep awaiting resurrection. However, when viewed together, they may actually be complementary, revealing both the condition of the dead and the assurance Christians have in Christ.

Sleep as the Condition of Death
Throughout the Bible, death is frequently described as sleep (1 Kings 2:10; Daniel 12:2; John 11:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13). This metaphor points to rest, peace, and the expectation of awakening at the resurrection. In Acts 7:60, Luke continues this tradition by describing Stephen’s death as sleep—the first time this language is used after the church is established at Pentecost.

Receive My Spirit as the Security of the Soul
At the same time, Stephen entrusts his spirit to Christ: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” This does not necessarily describe a conscious, disembodied experience, but rather Stephen’s assurance that his life was being kept safe in Christ’s hands, even in death. In this way, his spirit is not lost or wandering, but secured until the day of resurrection.

Paul’s Teaching
Paul’s writings harmonize with this perspective. In 2 Corinthians 12:2–4, Paul describes an out-of-body vision, but not a post-death state. In Philippians 1:23, he expresses confidence that death means being “with Christ,” yet his focus in 1 Thessalonians 4 is that the dead are asleep until Christ returns to raise them. He does not describe conscious saints returning with Jesus, but rather the sleeping faithful who will rise at His coming.

Theological Implication
If we read Stephen’s final words as complementary, we see a balanced picture: death is sleep for the believer, but it is a secure sleep, because Christ has received the spirit in trust. The Christian’s hope rests not in disembodied consciousness, but in the certainty that the Lord Himself is the guardian of those who sleep until the resurrection.
This understanding provides both comfort and clarity. Comfort, because death is a peaceful rest. Clarity, because our assurance is not in speculating about the intermediate state but in trusting that Christ keeps His own until the day they are awakened to eternal life.