Acts 7:54-60
I have often commented on Stephen’s seeing Jesus …standing at the right hand of God. (vv. 55b, 56b), noting that Jesus’ normal position is to be seated at the Father’s right hand, as He Himself said (Luke 22:69, Matthew 26:64, Mark 14:62). But Stephen sees Jesus STANDING at God’s right hand. I’ve pictured Jesus as Stephen’s defense attorney standing before the Father, the judge if you will, pleading for Stephen’s life, his entry into heaven upon his death. But what I had not noticed before is that Luke writes these exact words TWICE, in verses 55 and 56. I sense that Luke wanted to make that point crystal clear, that Jesus stands before the Father in defense of any who come before the Father and have committed their life to Him. That’s powerful!
Stephen also …saw the glory of God… (v. 55), something that I don’t recall reading anywhere else except in John’s Revelation.
The Jews stoned Stephen outside the city (v. 58). They had cast him out (driven him out, dragged him out, according to different translations), so it was imperative to them that they commit this deed outside the city. Did they consider the city itself, not just the temple, such a holy place? Strange.
Stephen has two of the same quotes as Jesus on the cross: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. and Lord, do not hold this sin against them. (vv. 59b, 60b) It’s easy to ask whether Stephen really said these things, since these quotes from Jesus are from Luke, chapter 23 (vv. 34, 46), and are not in the other Gospels. I accept all words of Scripture as “God-breathed” (II Timothy 3:16), so I do not dispute that Stephen said these words. But it’s one of the ways in which non-believers attack Scripture as a product of men, not inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Just that…
Slava Bohu!