Atos 7:55, Atos 7:56 NVIPT

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:55-56

Visions of the risen Christ. It is hardly to be doubted that St. Paul preserved the record of these incidents; and we may realize how such a cry from the persecuted Nazarene, as we have in the text, would fix itself in the thought and memory of one so religious and so impulsive as St. Paul. It would be most vividly recalled to mind when he too was smitten down with the glory on the Damascus road, and himself heard the voice of Jesus, the risen and exalted One. Evidently the thing that most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 7:55-60

The glory of the martyr. It is not impossible that the foregoing defense of Stephen may own to some slight ellipses; if so, to be accounted for partly by the fact of his immediate martyrdom, which prevented his rehearsal of it to any penman. But if it be not so, and if we have here in due connection all that Stephen said that is material to a right apprehension of the exact position of things, then his outburst recorded in Acts 7:51-53 is indeed full of suggestion, hints at much that lay... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 7:55

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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 7:54-56

Acts 7:54-56. When they heard these things These plain, and undeniable, and alarming truths; they were cut to the heart Or sawn asunder, the original word being the same that is used chap. Acts 5:33. And not permitting him to proceed any further, in a transport of rage, they gnashed on him with their teeth As if they would have devoured him alive. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost And therefore no way terrified with the foresight of the evil which appeared to be determined against... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 7:1-60

Stephen before the Sanhedrin (7:1-60)The defence that Stephen made before the Sanhedrin was not designed to win its approval. He outlined Israel’s history to demonstrate two main points. First, God had never shown himself to be limited to one dwelling place, or even one locality (therefore the Jews were mistaken in attaching such importance to the temple in Jerusalem). Second, the people of Israel had always rejected the messengers of God (therefore their rejection of the Messiah Jesus was not... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 7:55

being. Greek. huparcho. See note on Luke 9:48 . the Holy Ghost No article. App-101 . looked up stedfastly. Greek. atenizo. App-133 . He was probably in one of the Temple courts, open to the sky. Jesus. App-98 . right hand Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 7:55

Acts 7:55. And Jesus standing on the right hand of God.— See the next note. It has been well observed, that Christ is generally represented sitting, but now as standing at God's right hand; that is, as risen up from the throne of his glory, to afford help to his distressed servant, and ready to receive him. It seems a very just conclusion of Mr. Addison's, that other martyrs, when called to suffer the last extremities, had extraordinaryassistances of some similar kind; or frail mortality could... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 7:55

55. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God—You who can transfer to canvas such scenes as these, in which the rage of hell grins horribly 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, for 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 council-chamber, see... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 7:55

Fully controlled by the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 6:3; Acts 6:5; Acts 6:8; Acts 6:15) Stephen received a vision of Jesus standing beside God in all His glory. This vision of God’s throne room in heaven is similar to visions that Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and John saw.The unusual fact that Stephen saw Him standing rather than seated, as the biblical writers elsewhere describe Him (e.g., Psalms 110:1), may imply several things. It may imply His activity as prophet and mediator standing between God and... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 7:1-60

Defence and Martyrdom of Stephen1-53. Speech of Stephen. There is every reason to believe that this speech was really delivered by St. Stephen, and not composed by St. Luke; for, (1) the speech does not (in any direct manner) answer the charges alleged (Acts 6:14), as a speech composed by the historian himself would have done; (2) there are several erroneous references to the OT. (not all due to the use of LXX), natural enough in a speech delivered impromptu, but not natural in a speech... read more