Acts 7:54 Now as they heard these things, they were exasperated and gnashed their teeth at him. (55) But being full of the Holy Spirit, he looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (57) But they cried out with a loud voice and covered their ears and rushed upon him with one accord. (58) And they threw him outside of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man called Saul.
According to [Acts] 7:55, Stephen saw the glory of God. This was a great vindication and encouragement to the persecuted one. The Lord in ascension is usually referred to as sitting at the right hand of God (Matt. 26:64; Heb. 1:3, 13). But Stephen saw Him standing there. This indicates that the Lord was greatly concerned for His persecuted one. Stephen did not care for the environment. Rather, being full of the Spirit, he looked intently into heaven. In 7:2 Stephen said that the God of glory appeared to Abraham. Now we are told that Stephen saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. In the entire New Testament this occurred only once. In 7:56 Stephen said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." The earth rejected Stephen and was closed to him, but the heavens opened up to him. This indicates that the heavens were with him and for him. Here we see that Saul, who later became an apostle (13:9), was a helper of the persecutors in slaying Stephen. Saul must have been deeply impressed with what was taking place as Stephen was stoned. (c) 2007 Living Stream Ministry.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Acts, pp. 175. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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