Later text
Acts 7:56BSB
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Intertextuality Pair
Acts 7:56 → Daniel 7:13-14
Allusion
Earlier text
In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Significance
Stephen's dying vision — "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56) — combines Dan 7:13-14's Son of Man figure with Ps 110:1's session at the right hand. The distinctively Stephanic detail is that the Son of Man is standing rather than seated (contrast the seated position in Heb 1:3; 8:1; 10:12), which may indicate Christ rising as advocate or witness for Stephen as he faces his accusers, or that his standing signals the imminent eschatological judgment the vision portends for Israel. The term ho huios tou anthrōpou ("Son of Man") is Jesus' own preferred self-designation throughout the Gospels, rooted in Dan 7:13-14 where "one like a son of man" approaches the Ancient of Days and receives an eternal kingdom over all nations — an investiture scene that Acts 2:33-36 interprets as Christ's ascension and session. Stephen sees that investiture as already accomplished.
- Found via
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
- Reference Type
- Allusion
- Connection Method(s)
- Promise-Fulfillment
Related Anchor-Text Networks
▸ The Son of Man Receiving Dominion
Linked Mentions 4