The physician Luke wrote how, “Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people”, and after being interrogated by the people in the synagogue, “all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Then said the high priest, Are these things so?”, and Stephen defended his faith by referring to, “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses”. He asked the Sanhedrin, “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers. Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, ...”, and in chapter seven and verse fifty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen says, “behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” where we read:
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
The verse begins, “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, ...” Luke began with the words, “and said” which means “and Stephen uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “Behold” or “lo, look, see and consider”, “I see the heavens opened” which means “I, Stephen, observe, notice and discern the regions above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings opened up”. Luke shared how “Stephen” declared that he was able to observe “heaven” opened to him.
The verse goes on to say, “... and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Luke continued with the words, “and the Son of man” which means “and God's Son Jesus” “standing on the right hand” or “fixed, set, placed and established at the right hand side of the authority and power” “of God” which means “belonging to God the Heavenly Father”. Luke shared how “Stephen” said he “saw Jesus” “standing on the right hand” of God's power and authority.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” was afforded a “look” into “heaven” before he went there, and what he observed was “Jesus” “standing” at “God the Heavenly Father's right hand”. In other words, Jesus was in the position of the power and authority of God. Jesus was “seated” at God's throne after He ascended into “heaven”, however, He stood in the vision of “Stephen”. (See Hebrews 1:3, 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22; Acts 7:55-56) Because “Stephen” defended his faith before the “Sanhedrin” he was about to die, and Jesus stood up for his soon entrance into “heaven”. God desires to bring every person into heaven to live with Him forever, and when they submit themselves to His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life with Him. Let all who read these words live in such a manner that Jesus will “stand” when they make their entrance before Him.
Next time Luke shares how the Sanhedrin, “cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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