Acts 7:55

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, BUT HE, BEING FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, LOOKED UP STEDFASTLY INTO HEAVEN, AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD - that is, BUT HE, BEING FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, LOOKED UP STEDFASTLY INTO HEAVEN, AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD - that is, such a visible manifestation as was vouchsafed so frequently of old. AND JESUS STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD - the place of coequal power and honour. Ye who can transfer to canvass such scenes as these, in which the rage of hell grins horrible from men, as they sit condemned by a frail prisoner of their own, and see heaven beaming from his countenance and opening full upon his view, I envy you, because I find no words to paint what, in the majesty of the divine text, is here so simply told. 'But how could Stephen in the c...

55._Forasmuch as he was full. _We cannot almost express into what straits the servant of Christ was brought, when he saw himself beset round with raging enemies; the goodness of his cause was oppressed, partly with false accusations and malice, partly with violence and outrageous outcries; he was environed with stern countenances on every side; he himself was haled unto a cruel and horrible kind of death; he could espy succor and ease no where. Therefore, being thus destitute of man’s help, he turneth himself toward God. We must first note this, that Stephen did look unto God, who is the judge of life and death, (turning his eyes from beholding the world,) when he was brought into extreme despair of all things, whilst that there is nothing but death before his eyes. This done, we must also add this, that his expectation was not in vain, because Christ appeared to him by and by. Although...

54-60 Nothing is so comfortable to dying saints, or so encouraging to suffering saints, as to see Jesus at the right hand of God: blessed be God, by faith we may see him there. Stephen offered up two short prayers in his dying moments. Our Lord Jesus is God, to whom we are to seek, and in whom we are to trust and comfort ourselves, living and dying. And if this has been our care while we live, it will be our comfort when we die. Here is a prayer for his persecutors. Though the sin was very great, yet if they would lay it to their hearts, God would not lay it to their charge. Stephen died as much in a hurry as ever any man did, yet, when he died, the words used are, he fell asleep; he applied himself to his dying work with as much composure as if he had been going to sleep. He shall awake again in the morning of the resurrection, to be received into the presence of the Lord, where is fuln...

Verse 55. _SAW THE GLORY OF GOD_] The _Shekinah_, the splendour or manifestation of the Divine Majesty. _AND JESUS STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD_] In his official character, as Mediator between God and man. Stephen had this revelation while in the Sanhedrin; for as yet he had not been _forced out of the city_. See Acts 7:58....

FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST - See the notes on Acts 2:4. LOOKED UP STEDFASTLY - Fixed his eyes intently on heaven. Foreseeing his danger, and the effect his speech had produced; seeing that there was no safety in the Great Council of the nation, and no prospect of justice at their hands, he cast his eyes to heaven and sought protection there. When dangers threaten us, our hope of safety lies in heaven. When people threaten our persons, reputation, or lives, it becomes us to fix our eyes on the heavenly world; and we shall not look in vain. AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD - This phrase is commonly used to denote the visible symbols of God. It means some magnificent representation; a splendor, or light, that is the appropriate exhibition of the presence of God,...

EXPOSITION ACTS 7:1 _And the high priest said _for then _said the high priest, _A.V. The high priest spoke as president of the Sanhedrim (see Acts 9:1. Acts 9:1 and Matthew 26:62). Theophilus the son of Annas or his brother Jonathan is probably meant. ACTS 7:2 _Brethren and fathers _for _men, brethren, and fathers, _A.V. _Haran _for _Charran, _A.V. BRETHREN AND FATHERS. The Greek is ἄνδρες ἀδελφοὶ (_i.e. _"men who are also my brethren") καὶ πατέρες. H

BUT HE BEING FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST,.... That is, Stephen, as Beza's ancient copy, and some others express it; and so the Ethiopic version; the Syriac version reads, "full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost", as in Acts 6:5 and so some copies; being under the influences of the Spirit of God, and filled with his divine comforts, and strong in the faith of Jesus Christ, and having a holy boldness, courage, and intrepidity of mind; instead of being discouraged and dejected, of being cast down in his spirits, and looking down upon the ground, he LOOKED UP STEADFASTLY TO HEAVEN; where he desired to be, and hoped and believed he should be; and from whence he knew his help came, and which he might now implore, as well as forgiveness for his enemies. AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD; not the essential glory of God, but some extraordinary light and brightness, which was a token and

ACTS 7:55 VIhsou/n After VIhsou/n the Western text (D itgig, h, p copsapt, G67) characteristically adds to.n ku,rion (see also the examples in Groups _B_ and _C_ in footnote 12, p. 226 above)....

CHAPTER 7 _ 1. The Address of Stephen (Acts 7:1)._ 2. The Martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:54). This is the largest chapter in this book and concludes the first section. Stephen is the chosen instrument to deliver the final testimony to the nation. He was not permitted to finish it. We notice at once a marked difference between the previous preaching by the Apostle Peter and the address of Stephen. The testimony of Peter was marked on the day of Pentecost and at the other occasions by great brevity. Stephen's address is the longest discourse reported in the New Testament. The name of Jesus is prominent in all the addresses of Peter. The fact that He was rejected by the people, crucified and that He rose from the dead, and the call to repentance, were the leading features of Peter's preaching.

ACTS 7:54 TO ACTS 8:1_ A_. DEATH OF STEPHEN. The speech of Stephen cuts the hearers to the quick. It is not said that they interrupted him; the speech is complete, but their apparent and vehement anger showed him that the last had come; they were no longer masters of themselves. We have no longer a judicial investigation before us but a tumultuous attack. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, sees a vision (Acts 7:55), as is recorded of many martyrs. He sees the glory of God (_cf._ Acts 7:2) and Jesus standing (? to receive His servant; generally sitting, Mark 14:62;...