Stephen Sees Heaven Opened

Facing a furious council, Stephen looked up and saw the heavens opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Moments later he was stoned, praying for his killers.

As Stephen finished his defense before the council, his hearers were cut to the heart and gnashed on him with their teeth. But Stephen, 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. 'Behold,' he said, 'I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.' The council cried out, stopped their ears, and rushed on him. They cast him out of the city and stoned him, while a young man named Saul watched over their clothes. Strengthened by what he had seen, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,' and asked that this sin not be laid to their charge.

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Details

Category: Early Church
Dreamer: Stephen
Interpretation: The risen Jesus stood at God's right hand to receive His first martyr and vindicate his testimony.

Key Chapters

Acts 7 Stephen's Speech and Martyrdom 8 min read In the moment of his death, Stephen is shown Jesus standing in glory, and he die...

Key Passages

I See the Heavens Opened

Acts 7:54-60

In the moment of his death, Stephen is shown Jesus standing in glory, and he dies forgiving his killers.

W⁵⁴hen they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

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, ⁵⁶ And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. ⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, ⁵⁸ And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. ⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. ⁶⁰ And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.