<p>7:56- see on Acts 2:33-36.</p><p><em>Look, I see </em><i>the heavens opened</i>- The implication is that if they lifted their eyes, they too could see what Stephen was seeing. It was a desperate appeal for their repentance in his final seconds. He so wanted them to see the Lord Jesus as he saw Him. Stephen's passion for the conversion of his enemies is simply matchless. They refused- rather like the earlier elders of Israel were invited to witness the theophany of God coming down on Sinai, but refused; asking Moses to go alone and hear and see it.</p><p><em>And the Son of man</em>- See on :59,60 and :55 <em>Jesus</em>.</p><p><em>Standing on the right hand of God- </em>The allusion could be to a witness or judge standing. As the human judge condemned Stephen- presumably by standing up to condemn him as usually happened in law courts (Acts 7:56 cp. Is. 3:13)- the Lord Jesus stands up in the court of Heaven as intercessor for Stephen. And this happens time and again in our lives, as and when and if we suffer the abuse of human condemnation and misjudgement. Although condemned by an earthly court, he confidently makes his appeal before the court of Heaven (Acts 7:56). Doubtless he was further inspired by the basic truth that whoever confesses the Lord Jesus before men, He will confess him before the angels in the court of Heaven (Lk. 12:8).</p><p>Hebrews- and I have suggested this letter is Paul's extended reflections upon Stephen's speech- invites us to see Christ as <em>sitting</em> there in Heaven, unlike the nervous High Priests of old on their annual entry into the Holiest <em>standing. </em>The fact Stephen saw the Lord <em>standing</em> at God's right hand suggests that He arose from His usual position, caught up, as it were, in the passion of mediation for His suffering servant. Robert Roberts began his life of Christ in <em>Nazareth Revisited</em> with the simple statement that &quot;Christ is real&quot;. Indeed He is real in our lives, actively passionate for us, just as He was for Stephen. And we must ask with the German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his final writings at the time of death in a Nazi prison: &quot;Who is Christ for us today?&quot;.</p>