Acts 7:56 kjv
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Acts 7:56 nkjv
and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
Acts 7:56 niv
"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
Acts 7:56 esv
And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
Acts 7:56 nlt
And he told them, "Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God's right hand!"
Acts 7 56 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 7:55 | Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. | Directly precedes this declaration |
| John 1:1 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | Identifies Jesus as divine |
| John 1:14 | The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. | Incarnation of the divine Word |
| John 10:30 | I and the Father are one. | Unity of Jesus with the Father |
| John 14:16-17 | And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever. | Promise of the Holy Spirit |
| John 17:5 | And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world was made. | Jesus' pre-incarnate glory |
| John 17:24 | Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me. | Jesus' desire for heavenly fellowship |
| Rom 8:34 | Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised to life—who is at the right hand of God and is interceding for us. | Jesus' current heavenly role |
| Eph 1:20-23 | He raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion... | Christ's exalted position |
| Col 1:15-18 | He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ...And he is the head of the body, the church. | Christ's supremacy and headship |
| Heb 1:3 | The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. | Jesus as the radiance of God's glory |
| Heb 12:2 | fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross... | Jesus as the object of our gaze |
| 1 Pet 3:22 | who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers in submission to him. | Christ's heavenly authority |
| Rev 1:13 | ...one like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet with a sash tied at his waist. | Vision of glorified Christ |
| Rev 22:1 | Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. | Jesus with God on the throne |
| Ps 110:1 | The Lord says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." | Prophecy of messianic exaltation |
| Isa 42:1 | "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations." | Servant in whom God delights |
| Jer 23:5-6 | "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right." | Prophecy of a righteous King |
| Luke 22:69 | But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God. | Jesus' prophetic statement about his exaltation |
| Matt 26:64 | "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." | Jesus' affirmation to the high priest |
Acts 7 verses
Acts 7 56 Meaning
Stephen, in his defense before the Sanhedrin, beholds Jesus standing at the right hand of God. This declaration signifies a divine affirmation of his testimony and a bold claim of Jesus' heavenly exaltation and authority.
Acts 7 56 Context
Stephen, a deacon filled with the Holy Spirit, is on trial before the Sanhedrin. He has just delivered a powerful, albeit provocative, speech summarizing Israel's history, highlighting their consistent rejection of God's messengers, culminating in the rejection and murder of Jesus. His accusers have brought charges of blasphemy against Moses and God. In this pivotal moment, as he is about to be stoned, Stephen experiences a divine revelation, seeing the heavenly court in session with Jesus standing at the Father's right hand, an image of vindication and imminent divine action.
Acts 7 56 Word analysis
And: Conjunction connecting the preceding statement with the new vision.
I: First-person pronoun, referring to Stephen.
see: Greek: blepō (βλέπω). To perceive with the eyes, to behold, to look at. In this context, it's an active, attentive seeing.
the: Definite article, specifying.
heavens: Greek: ouranos (οὐρανούς). The sky, the firmament, the abode of God and celestial beings.
opened: Greek: anoigo (ἀνοίγω). To open, to throw open, to reveal. Suggests a supernatural unlocking of Stephen's spiritual sight.
And: Conjunction.
I: First-person pronoun.
see: Greek: theō (θεῶ). A more intense, contemplative seeing, implying a deep perception. It signifies a deliberate and profound gaze.
the: Definite article.
Son: Greek: Huios (Υἱὸς). Son, a designation emphasizing Jesus' unique relationship with God and his divine nature.
of: Preposition indicating origin or relationship.
Man: Greek: Anthropos (ἄνθρωπος). Man, humankind. This refers to the title Jesus frequently used for Himself, linking His divine identity with His humanity.
standing: Greek: heōs (ἕως). To stand, to be erect, to be in a state of readiness or service.
at: Preposition indicating proximity or position.
the: Definite article.
right: Greek: dexios (δεξιός). Right hand, the place of honor, authority, and power.
hand: Greek: cheir (χειρ). Hand. The "right hand of God" is a metaphorical expression for the highest position of honor and authority next to God Himself.
of: Preposition.
God: Greek: Theos (Θεός). God, the supreme being.
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God: This entire phrase describes the supernatural vision granted to Stephen. The vision is a confirmation of Jesus' exaltation after His earthly ministry and resurrection, as prophesied in Scripture (e.g., Psalm 110:1) and proclaimed by the early church (Acts 2:34-35). The "standing" suggests not just presence, but perhaps also active intercession or readiness to welcome Stephen.
Acts 7 56 Bonus section
This vision echoes Old Testament depictions of heavenly throne rooms, such as in Isaiah 6:1, where Isaiah sees the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, with His train filling the temple. Daniel also saw a vision of "one like a son of man" coming to the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:13-14, a passage frequently associated with the Messiah. Stephen’s statement is a direct assertion of Jesus' fulfillment of these messianic prophecies, positioning Him in the place of ultimate divine authority and honor, which directly challenged the Sanhedrin's authority and their rejection of Jesus as the Christ.
Acts 7 56 Commentary
Stephen's final vision before his martyrdom is profound. He doesn't just see glory; he sees Jesus, the Son of Man, standing at the right hand of God. This is not a passive pose but an active stance, perhaps indicating Jesus welcoming Stephen or readying Himself to receive him. This vision confirms Stephen's message and declares Jesus' divine authority and active role in heaven, mirroring His earthly claims and validations. It’s a powerful vindication of Stephen’s testimony in the face of imminent death, demonstrating that his life and death were precious in God’s sight. The opponents' ultimate act of violence is met with God’s ultimate affirmation of His Son and His faithful servant.