To whom should we pray? To God the Father, to Jesus Christ or to both? In Matthew 6:9 and John 15:16, we are taught to pray to God through Jesus. However, in John 14 :14, Romans 10:12, 2 Corinthians 12:8, and Acts 7:59, both Paul and Stephen prayed to Jesus. Please explain.

We pray to God our Father. At the same time our Father wants us to acknowledge that his son Jesus is the active agent in answering our prayers. The following scriptures, you cited, agree with this thought.

John 14:13-14, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

Romans 10:12,  “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all, is rich unto all that call upon him.”  (Note: this is not referring to Jesus.)

2 Corinthians 12:8, “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.”

Acts 7:59 (NIV), “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” Here, Stephen is giving the Jewish people a witness about Jesus, that he is the Messiah. When you understand that the church is to be Jesus’ bride, this prayer of Stephen is like asking his Savior to receive him as a chosen bride member.