Acts 7:55
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
But Stephen
Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, was one of the first deacons chosen by the early church (Acts 6:5). His selection highlights the importance of being spiritually mature and full of wisdom to serve in the church. Stephen's life and ministry exemplify the power of the Holy Spirit working through believers, even in the face of persecution.

full of the Holy Spirit
The phrase underscores the indwelling and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in Stephen's life. In Greek, "full" (πλήρης, plērēs) indicates completeness or being filled to capacity. This fullness enabled Stephen to perform great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8) and to speak with wisdom and power. The Holy Spirit's role is crucial in the believer's life, providing guidance, strength, and boldness to witness for Christ.

looked up to heaven
Stephen's gaze towards heaven signifies his focus on God amidst earthly trials. This act of looking up is symbolic of seeking divine help and assurance. In times of distress, believers are encouraged to fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2). Stephen's upward look reflects his unwavering faith and trust in God's sovereignty.

and saw the glory of God
The "glory of God" (δόξα τοῦ θεοῦ, doxa tou theou) represents God's majestic presence and divine radiance. In the Old Testament, God's glory often appeared in visible manifestations, such as the cloud in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). Stephen's vision of God's glory affirms the reality of God's presence and the hope of eternal life for believers. It serves as a reminder that God's glory is the ultimate goal and reward for those who remain faithful.

and Jesus standing at the right hand of God
The image of Jesus standing, rather than sitting, at God's right hand is significant. In Scripture, the right hand symbolizes power and authority (Psalm 110:1). Jesus standing may indicate His active role as an advocate and intercessor for Stephen (1 John 2:1). This vision reassures believers of Christ's continual presence and support, especially during persecution. It also emphasizes Jesus' exalted position and His victory over sin and death.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Stephen
A deacon in the early church, known for his wisdom and filled with the Holy Spirit. He is the first Christian martyr.

2. The Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity, who empowers and fills believers, guiding them in truth and boldness.

3. Heaven
The spiritual realm where God resides, often depicted as the ultimate destination for believers.

4. The Glory of God
A manifestation of God's presence and majesty, often associated with divine revelation and power.

5. Jesus at the Right Hand of God
A position of authority and honor, signifying Jesus' divine status and His role as intercessor for believers.
Teaching Points
Fullness of the Holy Spirit
Believers are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which empowers them to face trials with boldness and grace.

Vision of Heaven
Keeping an eternal perspective helps believers endure suffering and remain faithful in the face of persecution.

Jesus' Authority and Intercession
Recognizing Jesus' position at the right hand of God reassures believers of His ongoing intercession and authority over all circumstances.

The Glory of God
Experiencing God's glory transforms and strengthens believers, encouraging them to live for His purposes.

Courage in Persecution
Stephen's example challenges believers to stand firm in their faith, even when facing opposition or persecution.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Stephen's vision of Jesus at the right hand of God encourage you in your current circumstances?

2. In what ways can you seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit in your daily life, as Stephen was?

3. How does understanding Jesus' authority and intercession impact your prayer life and relationship with Him?

4. What practical steps can you take to maintain an eternal perspective, especially during challenging times?

5. How can Stephen's example of courage in persecution inspire you to share your faith more boldly?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 2:4
The filling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which empowered the apostles, similar to Stephen's experience.

Hebrews 1:3
Describes Jesus sitting at the right hand of God, emphasizing His authority and divine nature.

Psalm 110:1
A prophetic psalm about the Messiah sitting at God's right hand, fulfilled in Jesus.

Revelation 1:13-16
A vision of Jesus in His glory, paralleling Stephen's vision of Jesus in heaven.

Matthew 5:10-12
Jesus' teaching on persecution, which Stephen exemplifies through his martyrdom.
IllustrationsW. Clarkson Acts 7:51-60
The Martyrdom of StephenE. Johnson Acts 7:54-60
The Proto-MartyrR.A. Redford Acts 7:54-60
Christ Appears for His People in Time of DangerActs 7:55-56
Seeing the Glory of ChristActs 7:55-56
StephenA. O. Johnston, M. A.Acts 7:55-56
Stephen's Outlook and VisionC. S. Robinson, D. D.Acts 7:55-56
Stephen's VisionC. Bradley, M. A.Acts 7:55-56
The Exaltation of ChristJames Bryce.Acts 7:55-56
The Martyr's Gaze on His Ascended LordBp. S. Wilberforce.Acts 7:55-56
The Presence of Christ in the Dying HourC. H. Spurgeon.Acts 7:55-56
The Rapture of StephenDean Goulburn.Acts 7:55-56
The True Conception of WorshipJohn Tesseyman.Acts 7:55-56
The Work of the Spirit in the Proto-MartyrJ. Morgan, D. D.Acts 7:55-56
Visions of the Risen ChristR. Tuck Acts 7:55, 56
The Glory of the MartyrP.C. Barker Acts 7:55-60
People
Aaron, David, Egyptians, Emmor, Hamor, Haran, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, Joseph, Joshua, Molech, Pharaoh, Saul, Solomon, Stephen, Sychem
Places
Babylon, Canaan, Egypt, Haran, Jerusalem, Mesopotamia, Midian, Mount Sinai, Red Sea, Shechem
Topics
Fixed, Full, Gazed, Ghost, Glory, God's, Heaven, Holy, Intently, Spirit, Standing, Steadfastly, Stedfastly, Stephen
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 7:55

     1045   God, glory of
     1193   glory, revelation of
     1194   glory, divine and human
     1403   God, revelation
     1513   Trinity, mission of
     2069   Christ, pre-eminence
     3251   Holy Spirit, filling with
     3281   Holy Spirit, inspiration
     4018   life, spiritual
     5149   eyes
     5184   standing

Acts 7:51-58

     2426   gospel, responses
     8450   martyrdom

Acts 7:54-58

     8483   spiritual warfare, causes

Acts 7:54-59

     7346   death penalty

Acts 7:54-60

     4366   stones
     5714   men
     7757   preaching, effects
     8498   witnessing, and Holy Spirit

Acts 7:55-56

     1265   hand of God
     1270   right hand of God
     2024   Christ, glory of
     2221   Christ, Son of Man
     2336   Christ, exaltation
     8450   martyrdom
     8474   seeing God
     9155   millennium

Library
Stephen's vision
'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God'--ACTS vii. 56. I. The vision of the Son of Man, or the abiding manhood of Jesus. Stephen's Greek name, and his belonging to the Hellenistic part of the Church, make it probable that he had never seen Jesus during His earthly life. If so, how beautiful that he should thus see and recognise Him! How significant, in any case, is it he should instinctively have taken on his lips that name, 'the Son of Man,' to designate
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Young Saul and the Aged Paul [Footnote: to the Young. ]
'...the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.'--ACTS vii. 58. '...Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.' --PHILEMON 9. A far greater difference than that which was measured by years separated the young Saul from the aged Paul. By years, indeed, the difference was, perhaps, not so great as the words might suggest, for Jewish usage extended the term of youth farther than we do, and began age sooner. No doubt, too, Paul's life had aged him fast,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Death of the Master and the Death of the Servant
'And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And, when he had said this, he fell asleep.'--ACTS vii. 59, 60. This is the only narrative in the New Testament of a Christian martyrdom or death. As a rule, Scripture is supremely indifferent to what becomes of the people with whom it is for a time concerned. As long as the man is the organ of the divine Spirit he is
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Prayer of Stephen.
(Fifth Sunday after Trinity, 1832.) TEXT: ACTS vii. 60. "And Stephen kneeled down and cried with, a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." FREE and unrestricted as we are in our church as to our choice of subjects for meditation from the treasuries of the divine Word, many of you may still perhaps wonder why I have selected this passage. For you are aware that I have often lately taken occasion to express the opinion that the state of things
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

Our Lord Appears after his Ascension.
^F I. Cor. XV. 8. ^f 8 and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also. [Since Paul reckons this among the bodily appearances of our Lord, we have included it in our work; but it borders upon those spiritual appearances which belong rather to apostolic history and may be classed with the vision of Stephen (Acts vii. 55) and John (Rev. i. 9-17), to which it was near kin. Accounts of the appearance will be found in the ninth, twenty-second and twenty-sixth chapters of Acts. For
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Letter iv. You Reply to the Conclusion of My Letter: "What have we to do with Routiniers?...
My dear friend, You reply to the conclusion of my Letter: "What have we to do with routiniers? Quid mihi cum homunculis putata putide reputantibus? Let nothings count for nothing, and the dead bury the dead! Who but such ever understood the tenet in this sense?" In what sense then, I rejoin, do others understand it? If, with exception of the passages already excepted, namely, the recorded words of God--concerning which no Christian can have doubt or scruple,--the tenet in this sense be inapplicable
Samuel Taylor Coleridge—Confessions of an Inquiring Spirit etc

St. Stephen's Day and Stephen, Full of Faith and Power, did Great Wonders and Miracles among the People. . . . Then they Stirred up the People. . . . And Caught Him, and Set up False Witnesses against Him.
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. . . . Then they stirred up the people. . . . and caught him, and set up false witnesses against him. Verzage nicht du Haüflein klein [52]Altenburg Gustavus Adolphus' Battle-song. 1631. trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855 Fear not, O little flock, the foe Who madly seeks your overthrow, Dread not his rage and power: What though your courage sometimes faints, His seeming triumph o'er God's saints Lasts but
Catherine Winkworth—Lyra Germanica: The Christian Year

The Death of Stephen. Acts 7:54-60

John Newton—Olney Hymns

Whether in Christ There was the Gift of Prophecy?
Objection 1: It would seem that in Christ there was not the gift of prophecy. For prophecy implies a certain obscure and imperfect knowledge, according to Num. 12:6: "If there be among you a prophet of the Lord, I will appear to him in a vision, or I will speak to him in a dream." But Christ had full and unveiled knowledge, much more than Moses, of whom it is subjoined that "plainly and not by riddles and figures doth he see God" (Num. 6:8). Therefore we ought not to admit prophecy in Christ. Objection
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether those who are not Practiced in Keeping the Commandments Should Enter Religion?
Objection 1: It would seem that none should enter religion but those who are practiced in the observance of the commandments. For our Lord gave the counsel of perfection to the young man who said that he had kept the commandments "from his youth." Now all religious orders originate from Christ. Therefore it would seem that none should be allowed to enter religion but those who are practiced in the observance of the commandments. Objection 2: Further, Gregory says (Hom. xv in Ezech., and Moral. xxii):
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Old Law was Given through the Angels?
Objection 1: It seems that the Old Law was not given through the angels, but immediately by God. For an angel means a "messenger"; so that the word "angel" denotes ministry, not lordship, according to Ps. 102:20,21: "Bless the Lord, all ye His Angels . . . you ministers of His." But the Old Law is related to have been given by the Lord: for it is written (Ex. 20:1): "And the Lord spoke . . . these words," and further on: "I am the Lord Thy God." Moreover the same expression is often repeated in Exodus,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Christ's Birth Should have Been Manifested by Means of the Angels and the Star?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ's birth should not have been manifested by means of the angels. For angels are spiritual substances, according to Ps. 103:4: "Who maketh His [Vulg.: 'makest Thy'] angels, spirits." But Christ's birth was in the flesh, and not in His spiritual substance. Therefore it should not have been manifested by means of angels. Objection 2: Further, the righteous are more akin to the angels than to any other, according to Ps. 33:8: "The angel of the Lord shall encamp round
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether it is Fitting that Christ Should Sit at the Right Hand of God the Father?
Objection 1: It would seem unfitting that Christ should sit at the right hand of God the Father. For right and left are differences of bodily position. But nothing corporeal can be applied to God, since "God is a spirit," as we read in Jn. 4:24. Therefore it seems that Christ does not sit at the right hand of the Father. Objection 2: Further, if anyone sits at another's right hand, then the latter is seated on his left. Consequently, if Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, it follows that
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Judgment is Rendered Perverse by Being Usurped?
Objection 1: It would seem that judgment is not rendered perverse by being usurped. For justice is rectitude in matters of action. Now truth is not impaired, no matter who tells it, but it may suffer from the person who ought to accept it. Therefore again justice loses nothing, no matter who declares what is just, and this is what is meant by judgment. Objection 2: Further, it belongs to judgment to punish sins. Now it is related to the praise of some that they punished sins without having authority
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

In Process of Tithe, that is to Say, in the Tenth Generation after the Flood...
In process of tithe, that is to say, in the tenth generation after the Flood, Abraham appeared, [120] seeking for the God who by the blessing of his ancestor was due and proper to him. [121] And when, urged by the eagerness of his spirit, he went all about the world, searching where God is, and failed to find out; God took pity on him who alone was silently seeking Him; and He appeared unto Abraham, making Himself known by the Word, as by a beam of light. For He spake with him from heaven, and said
Irenæus—The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching

And Jacob, when He Went into Mesopotamia, Saw Him in a Dream...
And Jacob, when he went into Mesopotamia, saw Him in a dream, standing upon the ladder , that is the tree which was set up from earth to heaven; [172] for thereby they that believe on Him go up to the heavens. For His sufferings are our ascension on high. And all such visions point to the Son of God, speaking with men and being in their midst. For it was not the Father of all, who is not seen by the world, the Maker of all who has said: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will
Irenæus—The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching

The Law Given, not to Retain a People for Itself, but to Keep Alive the Hope of Salvation in Christ Until his Advent.
1. The whole system of religion delivered by the hand of Moses, in many ways pointed to Christ. This exemplified in the case of sacrifices, ablutions, and an endless series of ceremonies. This proved, 1. By the declared purpose of God; 2. By the nature of the ceremonies themselves; 3. From the nature of God; 4. From the grace offered to the Jews; 5. From the consecration of the priests. 2. Proof continued. 6. From a consideration of the kingdom erected in the family of David. 7. From the end of the
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Wisdom and Revelation.
"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness
W. H. Griffith Thomas—The Prayers of St. Paul

As God in his Word Enjoins Common Prayer, So Public Temples are the Places Destined...
As God in his word enjoins common prayer, so public temples are the places destined for the performance of them, and hence those who refuse to join with the people of God in this observance have no ground for the pretext, that they enter their chamber in order that they may obey the command of the Lord. For he who promises to grant whatsoever two or three assembled in his name shall ask (Matth. 18:20), declares, that he by no means despises the prayers which are publicly offered up, provided there
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

A Glorious vision.
THE Epistle to the Hebrews, this profound and blessed portion of the Holy Scriptures, unfolds a most wonderful vision of the Person, the Glory and the great Redemption work of our adorable Lord. The portion of the Epistle which is the richest in this respect is the Second Chapter. Here is a vista for the eyes of faith which is sublime. Our Lord in His Person, in His humiliation and exaltation, in His suffering and glory, stands out in a way which makes the believing heart rejoice with joy unspeakable
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

It Follows in the Creed, "And in the Holy Ghost. ...
13. It follows in the Creed, "And in the Holy Ghost." This Trinity, one God, one nature, one substance, one power; highest equality, no division, no diversity, perpetual dearness of love. [1795] Would ye know the Holy Ghost, that He is God? Be baptized, and ye will be His temple. The Apostle says, "Know ye not that your bodies are the temple within you of the Holy Ghost, Whom ye have of God?" [1796] A temple is for God: thus also Solomon, king and prophet, was bidden to build a temple for God. If
St. Augustine—On the Creeds

The Secret of Its Greatness
[Illustration: (drop cap G) The Great Pyramid] God always chooses the right kind of people to do His work. Not only so, He always gives to those whom He chooses just the sort of life which will best prepare them for the work He will one day call them to do. That is why God put it into the heart of Pharaoh's daughter to bring up Moses as her own son in the Egyptian palace. The most important part of Moses' training was that his heart should be right with God, and therefore he was allowed to remain
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

From Egypt to Sinai.
Ex. Chs. 1-19 Israel in Egypt. The length of time the Hebrews remained In Egypt is a perplexing question. Exodus 6:16-20 makes Moses the fourth generation from Levi (See Gen. 15:16; Num. 26:57-59). This would make it about 150 years. Gen. 15:13 predicts 400 years. Ex. 12:40 says they were there 430 years and Paul (Gal. 3:17) says 430 years from Abraham to Sinai. These apparently conflicting dates may be explained because of different methods of counting generations, probably based on long lives of
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

The Son of Man
"The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins." MARK 2:10 (R.V.) WHEN asserting His power to forgive sins, Jesus, for the first time in our Gospel, called Himself the Son of man. It is a remarkable phrase. The profound reverence which He from the first inspired, restrained all other lips from using it, save only when the first martyr felt such a rush of sympathy from above poured into his soul, that the thought of Christ's humanity was more moving than that of His deity. So too it is then alone
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

Links
Acts 7:55 NIV
Acts 7:55 NLT
Acts 7:55 ESV
Acts 7:55 NASB
Acts 7:55 KJV

Acts 7:55 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Acts 7:54
Top of Page
Top of Page