While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60

Jehovah's witnesses translate the same two verses in their "New World Translation" like this " ...Then, kneeling down, he cried out with a strong voice: “Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them.” And after saying this, he fell asleep in death." With no regard for the original Greek or the fact that "Jehovah", "Yahweh", or YHWH ever appears in the NT at all, they arbitrarily swap the title Lord with the name Jehovah, forcing that name into Stephen's mouth. With the way they add names and words where they aren't ever warranted, the Watchtower Bible needs to be renamed "New Word Translation" It really is that

Not only is Stephen NOT quoting from the OT in Acts 7:59-60, but in their incessant need to insert the name Jehovah wherever and wherever they can, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society actually mixed up who receives spirits and who judges men's sins. God the Father clearly receives spirits Ecclesiastes 12:7, Luke 23:46 while Jesus is the judge of men's sins. Jesus said "The Father judges no one." John 5:22 How can they be so blind as to miss this? It tells me they were so hot to put Jehovah in the NT they made a mess they cannot hope to explain.

If you are a JW I really would like to know how you explain the way the Watchtower translates and teaches these verses? How do you justify swapping the name Jehovah for "Lord" unless Lord actually and ultimately means Jehovah? In which case, guess what? When you say "Jesus is Lord" you are actually saying Jesus is Jehovah. Romans 10:9 There is only ONE Lord according to Paul 1 Corinthians 8:6 Would anyone be so bold as to say Jehovah is not that ONE Lord?

Posted Jul 13, 2026, 4:33 PM UTC

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