When Stephen was dying, did he call God Jesus? Acts 7:59

No.  (Acts 7:59 KJV) “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

This passage, as it appears in the KJV translation, is used to support the idea that Jesus is God. The KJV has the phrase, “calling upon God,” but puts “God” in italics to show that the translators added this word (God) and that it was not in the original text.

The NIV reflects this difference correctly.

“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59 NIV)

Scripture tells us that when we pray to (or call upon) God, referencing the name of Jesus, we are not calling God Jesus, but calling on God through the authority vested in the name of His Son (Jesus) who is our mediator between God and man. Jesus and the apostle Paul makes this perfectly clear.

(John 16:23) – “ And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”

(John 15:16) – “that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”