Acts 7:54-57

Stephen is Killed

7:54 When they heard these things, they became furious ¹  and ground their teeth ²  at him. 7:55 But Stephen, ³  full ⁴  of the Holy Spirit, looked intently ⁵  toward heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing ⁶  at the right hand of God. 7:56 “Look!” he said. ⁷  “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 7:57 But they covered their ears, ⁸  shouting out with a loud voice, and rushed at him with one intent.

[7:54]  ¹ tn This verb, which also occurs in Acts 5:33, means “cut to the quick” or “deeply infuriated” (BDAG 235 s.v. διαπρίω).

[7:54]  ² tn Or “they gnashed their teeth.” This idiom is a picture of violent rage (BDAG 184 s.v. βρύχω). See also Ps 35:16.

[7:55]  ³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Stephen) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[7:55]  ⁴ tn Grk “being full,” but the participle ὑπάρχων (Juparcwn) has not been translated since it would be redundant in English.

[7:55]  ⁵ tn Grk “looking intently toward heaven, saw.” The participle ἀτενίσας (atenisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[7:55]  ⁶ sn The picture of Jesus standing (rather than seated) probably indicates his rising to receive his child. By announcing his vision, Stephen thoroughly offended his audience, who believed no one could share God’s place in heaven. The phrase is a variation on Ps 110:1.

[7:56]  ⁷ tn Grk “And he said, ‘Look!’” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences, καί (kai) has not been translated here; a new sentence is begun instead.

[7:57]  ⁸ sn They covered their ears to avoid hearing what they considered to be blasphemy.