Yes—Stephen’s vision of Jesus standing, not sitting, signaled that Jesus was ready to return and deal with Israel.
Les Feldick teaches that the standing posture is deliberate and meaningful. Jesus is normally seen seated at the Father’s right hand, but Stephen saw Him standing. Les connects this to the promise in Acts 3:19–20 that Christ was ready to return and set up the Kingdom if Israel repented. The Jewish leaders understood the implication and responded by stoning Stephen.
Acts 7:55-56 — This is the direct record of Stephen’s vision and the reaction it provoked.
Acts 3:19-20 — Les uses this passage to explain why Stephen seeing Jesus standing meant He was ready to return.
In Acts 7:55–56, Stephen, 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. He declared, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” The immediate response was violent: the men cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, ran upon him with one accord, cast him out of the city, and stoned him. Elsewhere, Scripture presents the ascended Christ seated at the Father’s right hand. Psalm 110:1 says, “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” Hebrews 1:3 also says that when He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Stephen’s vision is therefore a striking exception: he saw Jesus standing rather than sitting.
Les Feldick points out that the Bible repeatedly pictures Jesus seated at the Father’s right hand after His ascension. That is why Stephen seeing Jesus standing is so significant. Les teaches the standing posture meant Jesus was ready to return to Israel and set up the Kingdom—there was no long interlude in view at that time. Israel had only to repent and believe, as Acts 3:19–20 promised. Les also connects the standing to Psalms 67–68, which the religious leaders knew well, saying this is why the statement stirred their fury. When Stephen announced he saw the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand, the Jews understood the implication: Jesus was ready to come and deal with them. Their response was to stop their ears, rush upon Stephen, and stone him. Les emphasizes that Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, and that the Spirit’s testimony was being rejected by Israel at that decisive moment.
When Stephen said he saw the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God, the men in the council cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, ran upon him with one accord, cast him out of the city, and stoned him (Acts 7:56–58). Les Feldick specifically points to this moment, teaching that the statement about Jesus standing, not sitting, is what aroused their anger. He connects that anger to Psalms 67–68, which the religious leaders would have known well, showing that they understood what the standing posture implied.
Les notes the consistent biblical picture: after purging sins, Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 110:1). But Stephen saw Him standing. Les teaches that the standing meant Jesus was ready to return and set up the Kingdom, just as Acts 3:19–20 promised Israel if they would repent. Stephen saw no 2,000-year interlude; he and the early Jewish believers expected Christ could come the second time quickly if Israel believed.
Luke repeatedly describes Stephen as full of faith and the Holy Spirit. In Acts 7:55, just before the vision, Stephen is “full of the Holy Ghost.” Les points out that this verse shows all three persons of the Godhead together: the Holy Spirit, the Father’s glory, and Jesus the Son. The testimony Stephen gave through the Spirit was Israel’s opportunity to respond, but instead they rejected it by stoning him.
Stephen, Full of the Holy Spirit, Confronts Israel
Les emphasizes that Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and accused Israel of resisting the Spirit through the prophets, framing the Spirit’s testimony that leads to the vision.
Sitting vs. Standing at the Right Hand
Les contrasts the normal biblical picture of Jesus seated at the Father’s right hand with Stephen’s vision of Him standing, and notes the Jews’ violent reaction at that statement.
Ready to Return and Set Up the Kingdom
Les connects the standing to Acts 3:19–20: Jesus was alive, raised, and ready to return quickly and set up the Kingdom if Israel repented.
Psalms 67–68 as the Background
Les points to Psalms 67 and 68 as the Old Testament basis for the significance of the standing posture, explaining why it angered the religious leaders.
The Godhead Present in Acts 7:55
Les notes all three persons of the Godhead appear in the verse, and he reminds viewers that the usual posture of the ascended Christ is seated, making Stephen’s standing exceptional.
No Long Interlude Seen
Les says Stephen and the early Jews expected Christ to come the second time immediately if Israel believed, explaining why the standing carried such urgency.
Not Sitting, But Standing
Les stresses the Scriptural detail: Stephen saw Jesus not sitting, but standing, and he emphasizes the repeated Holy Spirit emphasis in the narrative.
Fury at the Standing Statement
Les explains that when Stephen said he saw Jesus standing, the Jews became furious, sprang on him, cast him out, and stoned him—and from that point Israel’s future was all downhill.
Acts 7:55: But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
This is the moment Stephen sees Jesus standing rather than sitting.
Acts 7:56: And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Stephen announces the vision, which provokes the violent reaction from the Jewish leaders.
Acts 3:19-20: Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Les connects this promise of Christ’s return to the meaning of Jesus standing in Stephen’s vision.
Psalm 110:1: The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
This verse shows the normal posture of Christ seated at the right hand, making Stephen’s vision exceptional.
Hebrews 1:3: Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
This passage confirms that Christ sat down after purging sins, which Les contrasts with Stephen seeing Him standing.
Psalm 68:1: Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
Les references Psalms 67–68 as Old Testament background for why the standing posture stirred the Jewish leaders’ anger.
Yes. Scripture says that after purging sins, Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 110:1). This makes Stephen’s vision of Jesus standing exceptional.
When Stephen announced he saw the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand, the men cried out, stopped their ears, ran upon him, cast him out of the city, and stoned him. Les Feldick teaches that the standing posture was what aroused their anger.
Les Feldick teaches it meant Jesus was ready to return to Israel and set up the Kingdom if they repented, rather than sitting until His enemies were made His footstool.
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