Click here to read today's passage on Bible Gateway.
Happy Fourth of July everyone!
Stephen's Vision
"Stephen’s vision is filled with deep significance. At his time of shame and apparent defeat he “saw the glory of God” (7:55b). He also saw Jesus and exclaimed, “Look … I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (7:56). This is the only New Testament occurrence of the title “the Son of Man” outside the Gospels. Stephen’s statement reminds us of a similar statement made by Jesus to the same court only a few months before. The high priest had asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” and Jesus had replied, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:61–62)...
...Why is Jesus standing and not seated, as the other Scriptures declare? I agree with the many commentators today who argue that Luke intends Jesus’ standing “as a witness or advocate in Stephen’s defense.” Jesus had said, “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8). In keeping with that promise, as Stephen is rejected by earthly courts, he finds Jesus acting as his advocate and testifying on his behalf. But Jesus is also the Judge, whose judgment alone matters from the eternal perspective. Therefore, there is nothing to fear. Rejection by his own people, the Jews, would have been hard to bear, but acceptance by that greatest of Jews, great David’s greater Son, more than compensates for the pain." [1] (emphasis mine)
Happy Fourth of July everyone!
Stephen's Vision
"Stephen’s vision is filled with deep significance. At his time of shame and apparent defeat he “saw the glory of God” (7:55b). He also saw Jesus and exclaimed, “Look … I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (7:56). This is the only New Testament occurrence of the title “the Son of Man” outside the Gospels. Stephen’s statement reminds us of a similar statement made by Jesus to the same court only a few months before. The high priest had asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” and Jesus had replied, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:61–62)...
...Why is Jesus standing and not seated, as the other Scriptures declare? I agree with the many commentators today who argue that Luke intends Jesus’ standing “as a witness or advocate in Stephen’s defense.” Jesus had said, “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8). In keeping with that promise, as Stephen is rejected by earthly courts, he finds Jesus acting as his advocate and testifying on his behalf. But Jesus is also the Judge, whose judgment alone matters from the eternal perspective. Therefore, there is nothing to fear. Rejection by his own people, the Jews, would have been hard to bear, but acceptance by that greatest of Jews, great David’s greater Son, more than compensates for the pain." [1] (emphasis mine)
[1] Ajith Fernando, Acts, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998), 260-61.
RSS Feed
