How does Acts 7:55 support the divinity of Jesus? Text “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55) Immediate Narrative Setting The verse occurs at the climax of Stephen’s sermon before the Sanhedrin. Luke deliberately frames Stephen’s words and death as the first recorded martyrdom after the resurrection. The vision is presented as divinely given, authenticated by the Spirit, and therefore authoritative for the reader. The Right-Hand Motif and Shared Divine Status 1. Psalm 110:1—“The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand…’” equates David’s “Lord” with Yahweh’s enthroned partner. 2. Isaiah 48:13; 59:16—Yahweh’s right hand accomplishes salvation. No angel or created being occupies that position. Standing (ἑστῶτα) at God’s right hand is not a posture granted to servants or emissaries; it denotes co-regency, participation in divine authority, and, in Jewish monotheistic categories, equality of honor (cf. Daniel 7:13–14). “Full of the Holy Spirit” and Trinitarian Overtones Luke names all three Persons: the Spirit fills Stephen; the Father’s glory is visible; the Son is seen in the place of divine prerogative. The verse thus presents a functional yet ontological Trinitarian tableau—Father, Son, and Spirit acting in concert. The Title “Son of Man” (v. 56) Stephen immediately identifies the figure as “the Son of Man,” echoing Daniel 7’s divine-human ruler who receives everlasting dominion. Early Second-Temple interpreters (1 Enoch 46–48) recognized the Danielic “Son of Man” as a pre-existent, worship-receiving being—language Jews reserved for God alone. Patristic Reception Irenaeus (Against Heresies 3.12.9) cites Acts 7:55–56 as evidence that “the Son is the eternal Word who appeared to the patriarchs.” Tertullian (Against Praxeas 30) uses the verse to teach the real distinction yet co-equality of Father and Son. Consistency with Wider Lukan Christology Luke 22:69—Jesus before the Sanhedrin: “From now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” The evangelist connects Jesus’ prophecy with Stephen’s fulfillment, reinforcing that the exalted position belongs intrinsically to Jesus. Martyrdom as Divine Affirmation Stephen willingly entrusts his spirit to “Lord Jesus” (v. 59), a direct parallel to Psalm 31:5—a prayer addressed to Yahweh. By appropriating that prayer to Jesus, Stephen exhibits functional worship, logically permissible only if Jesus is fully divine. Philosophical and Behavioral Implications If a first-century monotheistic Jew worships Jesus at death without censure from the Spirit-filled narrative, the most coherent explanation is that Jesus shares Yahweh’s identity. Cognitive-behavioral studies on religious devotion show that martyr-level allegiance typically attaches to a perceived ultimate deity, not to a mere envoy. Archaeological and Historical Corroboration The first-century Greek inscription of Nazareth (the “Nazareth Decree”) threatening penalties for tomb disturbance is often linked to early Christian claims of resurrection, demonstrating that belief in a risen, exalted Jesus was both early and disruptive enough to provoke official responses—contextual support for Stephen’s vision. Answering Common Objections • “An angel can stand at God’s right hand.” Scripture never assigns the right-hand throne to angels; Hebrews 1:13 explicitly denies it. • “Jesus is subordinate, therefore not divine.” Functional submission does not negate shared essence; Philippians 2:6–11 presents voluntary humility of one who is “in very nature God.” Integration with Broader Biblical Witness Acts 7:55 aligns with John 1:1, Colossians 1:15–18, and Revelation 5 where Jesus receives worship alongside the Father. Scripture thus maintains internal consistency: exalted status, creative agency, and redeeming authority converge in the same Person. Conclusion Acts 7:55 supports Jesus’ divinity by: 1. Placing Him in Yahweh’s unique position of authority, 2. Presenting a Trinitarian manifestation recognized and reported by inspired Scripture, 3. Provoking worship and ultimate allegiance from Stephen, and 4. Standing on unassailable manuscript and historical grounds. Taken cumulatively, the passage demands the confession that Jesus is fully and eternally God. |
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