Here is an example of a couple of elements important to forgiving. We all understand that one of the conditions to being forgiven is repentance. I want you to think about this circumstance when it took place in its wider context. There is absolutely no evidence that anybody involved in Christ's illegal trial, His conviction, and His crucifixion had repented of anything. These people, brethren, didn't even know they had sinned! Do you see a pattern being established here? What is shown is that Christ was clearly WILLING to forgive them. He was therefore already of the mind to extend mercy.
Now another thing: It does not say here that they were forgiven then and there. They will be forgiven when they understand and repent before God and ask for forgiveness in the second resurrection.
Is Christ setting the example for us? Whom did He ask to do the forgiving? God. By faith, mercy is triumphing over judgment, and so our responsibility (according to this model, this pattern that is established here) is that we are to be in the mind to forgive - to forgive from our hearts, and to follow the example of Christ, and by faith hand the judgment (the justice) over to God. In that case, in our situation, mercy has triumphed over justice.
Do you know what's going to happen? When the time comes, God is going to reveal the sins of these people to them, and then they are going to understand that the real sin was against Him and His Son. These people are going to repent, and the mercy then is that they will not have the death penalty facing them. But you see, we are free and clear, because when we had the opportunity to extend the mercy, we did.
We all make mistakes and say the wrong thing at times, and we do not always do the correct thing. We must forgive others their trespasses and when they stumble from the correct way. This is an extremely important principle and lesson that God wants ingrained in us. This is so important! God wants us to understand that if we do not forgive others that He will not forgive us. (Luke 23:34) Jesus sets the ultimate example: Father, forgive them; they know not what they do. They were beating Him and cutting Him to ribbons, and yet He forgave them. This is our example that we are to follow and not to come apart at little things.
I am reading this only because I want you to have an example of Jesus following His own teaching. He did not retaliate. This is the same man who earlier said to Peter, Don't you know that I could call out to My Father and He would send twelve legions of angels? Jesus was not defenseless. Retaliation was not on His mind. Fulfilling His Father's work, on behalf of His Father and mankind, overrode His personal feelings in this dilemma He was facing.
Stephen's cries are reminiscent of Jesus' words from the stake in Luke 23:34, 46, though the parallelism of sequence and wording is not exact. The parallelism here was probably included to show that the same spirit of commitment and forgiveness that characterized Jesus' life and death was true of his earlier followers.
