Acts 7:59-60

New King James Version

“Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” … And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

For Encouragement

The promise Jesus added to the Great Commission is assuring (Matt. 28:20). He does not send us to the wolves (Lk. 10:3) and abandon us to them in our feeble strength. He walks with us (Isa. 43:2), strengthening and encouraging us. Even through the shadow of death, He is with us because the death of His faithful servant is precious in His sight (Psa. 116:15). That behoves us to trust Jesus in obedience, regardless—the life of all the members of His Hall of Faith for His glory. Amen!

Acts 6:8 portrays Stephen as a man filled with God’s grace and power. The wonders he performed are not Stephen’s notable testimony but his steadfastness and wisdom, which the Spirit gave as He bore witness to the name of Jesus (10). Such boldness has consequences, and that is what we fear, making us hold back from standing for our Savior. It got Stephen into trouble with the congregation of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (9) and the Sanhedrin (12). The Lord did not abandon Stephen. He was with him through his powerful and convicting witness and his martyrdom (7:2-59). 

Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, fearlessly faced the Sanhedrin’s enraged fury, God’s glory vindicating him.

I see the heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God (55-56).

What an encouragement!

We know Jesus as currently seated at the right hand of God, His divine position of authority and interceding for us (Rom. 8:34). Still, here, we see with Stephen, Jesus, standing in that position (Acts 7:56). He who knows the end of everything, stood watching Stephen standing where He also stood—among wolves—and just as the Father did not deliver Him from His imminent death on the cross, Jesus did not deliver Stephen from his death by stoning. Instead, our gracious Lord revealed His glory to Stephen, which must have reminded him of the promises of Isaiah 43:2 and Matthew 28:20. The Lord was saying, “Stephen, I am with you and ready to receive you into your rest in me. You have been a faithful servant, and your dying is precious to me.” Is there any comfort for the believer beyond this?

What is your fear today? Is it persecution, trials, sickness, or death? Can any of these separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35, 38-39)? Who are the wolves that have surrounded you? Their growling is threatening and intimidating, but look to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of your faith, and prevail in His strength (Heb. 12:2-3). And even if His will for you in that situation is death, trust that Christ walks with you through your ordeal and is standing to receive you in His glory. Amen! 

Pray with Me

Father, thank you for the example of Stephen. Encourage me with your heavenly posture when death stares me in the face. I am yours in life and death. Amen.

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