But
he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Acts 7:55-56
Acts 7 [51.] “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!”
Acts 7 [54.] Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Acts 7 [57.] But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord. They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Meaning:
Stephen’s hearers were “cut to the heart” and gnashed their teeth at him (Acts 7:54). At that moment of fury, Stephen saw a vision of heaven. These verses describe what he saw and the words that provoked the council to kill him.
- “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit”
Luke has described Stephen as full of the Spirit from the start (Acts 6:5). The Spirit who gave him wisdom in debate (Acts 6:10) now gives him a vision and courage at the point of death. The contrast is striking: his enemies are filled with rage, Stephen with the Holy Spirit. Jesus had promised that the Spirit would help his followers when they were brought before councils (Matthew 10:20).
- “looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God”
Stephen began his speech with “The God of glory” appearing to Abraham (Acts 7:2). He ends it seeing that same glory. Throughout his speech he argued that God is not confined to the temple. Now, outside the sanctuary and condemned by its leaders, he sees God’s glory directly in heaven, where God is truly enthroned (Acts 7:49).
- “Jesus standing on the right hand of God”
The right hand of God is the place of highest honour and authority. In Psalm 110 Yahweh says to David’s Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet” (Psalm 110:1). Peter preached that Jesus had been “exalted by the right hand of God” (Acts 2:33). Elsewhere the New Testament usually describes Jesus as seated there (Hebrews 12:2). Why is he standing here? Christians have offered several explanations. Many think Jesus rose to welcome his first martyr into heaven. Others see him standing as a witness or advocate, confessing before God the one who confessed him before men, as he promised (Luke 12:8). Others suggest he stands as judge, rising to give verdict against those condemning his servant. These views can overlap, and the text does not explain.
- “I see the heavens opened”
An opened heaven signals divine revelation. Ezekiel wrote, “the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God” (Ezekiel 1:1). At Jesus’ baptism he saw “the heavens parting” (Mark 1:10), and Jesus promised Nathanael, “you will see heaven opened” (John 1:51). Stephen sees into the very presence of God.
- “the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God”
This is the only time in the New Testament outside the Gospels that someone other than Jesus calls him “the Son of Man.” The title comes from Daniel’s vision of one “like a son of man” who came to the Ancient of Days and received everlasting dominion (Daniel 7:13). At his trial before the same council, Jesus had said, “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky” (Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69). Stephen now declares that what Jesus claimed is true. To the council this was blasphemy, and it sealed Stephen’s fate (Acts 7:57-58).
The Significance of Acts 7:55-56
- The risen Christ is with his suffering people
Stephen was surrounded by enemies on earth, but his eyes were fixed on Jesus in heaven. Believers who suffer for Christ can know that he sees them and stands with them. Hebrews urges us to keep “looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
- Jesus reigns
The man condemned by the council now stands at God’s right hand. His exaltation is the ground of the church’s confidence: no earthly court has the final word. Paul writes that “It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).
Cross-References:
Mark 14:62: "I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky." Jesus’ words before the council.
Daniel 7:13: "there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man" Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man.
Psalm 110:1: "Yahweh says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.”" The Messiah at God’s right hand.
Conclusion: Full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen looked into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus, the Son of Man, standing at God’s right hand. His vision confirmed what Jesus had told the same council and revealed that the rejected one now reigns in glory. The passage assures believers that the exalted Christ sees and stands with those who suffer for his name.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible