“And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”
'Look,' he said, 'I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God' - Stephen's declaration 'I see heaven open' (theorō thenous ēnoigmenous, I see the heavens opened/split apart) uses language of theophanic vision (cf. Mark 1:10, Acts 10:11). The 'opening' (anoigō) suggests the boundary between heaven and earth becomes permeable; the transcendent breaks into the visible world. 'The Son of Man standing at the right hand of God' applies the messianic title from Daniel 7:13 to Jesus, identifying him as the apocalyptic judge standing in divine authority. The standing posture is crucial: Jesus is ready, witnessing, receiving his faithful witness.
Church Fathers on Acts 7:56
stopped their ears. But he, being 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, and said, Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. Acts 7:55-58 And yet, if he lied, they ought to have thought him beside…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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