“"And he said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'"”
Acts 7:56
Summary
Acts 7 presents the speech of Stephen, who, before the Sanhedrin, delivers a powerful sermon recounting the history of Israel and its frequent resistance to God's plans. Stephen begins with Abraham, illustrating God's covenant and calling, and continues through the narratives of Joseph and Moses. He emphasizes how the ancestors consistently rejected the leaders chosen by God, drawing parallels with how the current leaders are resisting the Holy Spirit and rejecting Jesus. Stephen accuses the Sanhedrin of resisting God's message and executing the 'Righteous One.' As Stephen speaks, the heavens open and he sees a vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God, which incites the council to stone him, making Stephen the first Christian martyr. His final words are a prayer for forgiveness for his executioners and a commendation of his spirit to Jesus.