Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Stephen addresses the enraged Sanhedrin immediately after they react with fury to his indictment. He speaks this declaration at the climax of his trial, just before his execution.
The words — πλήρης (plērēs) translates literally as "full," and ἀτενίσας (atenisas) means "having looked intently." These terms describe his Spirit-filled condition and fixed upward gaze before reporting his vision.
The thread — The vision of Jesus at God’s right hand mirrors the ascension account in Mark 16:19 and aligns with Hebrews 1:3’s description of the Son as God’s exact representation. The motif of divine illumination also connects to the revelation described in 2 Corinthians 4:6.
Why it lands — The text states that Stephen perceived the glory of God and a standing Christ while facing mortal hostility. It requires the reader to recognize that earthly opposition does not override heavenly authority and to fix their attention on divine reality rather than human threat.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Cross-references
- Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
- Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
- 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
- Psalms 109:31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from the condemners of his soul.
- Acts 6:5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
- Acts 6:8 Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
- Acts 6:10 but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
- Hebrews 8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
- Revelation 4:1 After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.”
- John 12:41 Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him.