Acts Theology 21: Son of Man Standing

As the mob prepared to stone him, Stephen "gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:55-56). That image draws directly on two Old Testament texts: Daniel 7:13-14, where "one like a son of man" comes before the Ancient of Days and receives everlasting dominion, and Psalm 110:1, where the LORD tells "my Lord" to "sit at my right hand." Luke's wording deliberately echoes both. Jesus is the enthroned Son of Man - already reigning now, not merely someday.
This matters because Stephen wasn't hallucinating in his final moments - he was seeing exactly what Daniel and David had already described centuries earlier: the exalted King, reigning at God's right hand, vindicating his faithful servant even as the world condemned him.
Scripture links:
- Acts 7:55-56 - "He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God... 'I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'" Stephen's vision of the enthroned Christ.
- Daniel 7:13-14 - "There came one like a son of man... and to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom." The Son of Man receives everlasting authority.
- Psalm 110:1 - "The LORD says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." A second enthroned Lord-figure, seated in the place of highest authority.