A moment the veil grew thin
Stephen's Vision
As the stones began to fall, the first Christian martyr looked up and saw heaven opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. It is the only place in Scripture where the Lord is shown standing to receive one of His own.
“And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”Acts 7:56
What happened
What happened. In Acts 7, Stephen has just finished his bold testimony before the Jewish council, tracing Israel's history and charging them with resisting the Holy Ghost and betraying the Just One. His hearers are cut to the heart and gnash on him with their teeth. 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. He says, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. At this they cry out, stop their ears, and rush upon him with one accord. They cast him out of the city and stone him. And Stephen, as the stones strike, calls upon God, saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he kneels down and cries with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. It is a scene of horror met by an open heaven and a Savior in full view.
What it opened
What it opened. This opened heaven was pure comfort in the hour of death. Stephen was not delivered from stoning; he was given something greater, the sight of Christ waiting to receive him. Ordinarily Scripture pictures Christ seated at the right hand of God, His finished work accomplished. Here, remarkably, He is standing, as if risen to welcome home His first martyr, to receive his spirit, and to honor the servant who bore witness to His name. The vision steadied Stephen so that he died as his Lord had died, praying for his killers, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge, echoing the Savior's own, Father, forgive them. It also stood as a warning and testimony against those who stopped their ears, for the One they had rejected was now revealed in glory. We should not treat this as a promise that every believer will see such a vision at death; it was a particular gift for a pivotal moment in the church's story. But it declares to every believer that death for the Christian is falling asleep in the sight of a waiting Lord.
How it points to Christ
How it points to Christ. Stephen names Him the Son of man, the very title Jesus used when He promised, ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man (John 1:51). Now a dying disciple sees exactly that, the heavens opened and the Son of man in glory. The One who is Himself the open heaven stands at the Father's right hand, alive from the dead, the proof that the way is truly open. Stephen prays, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, entrusting himself directly to Christ as to God, because through Him we have boldness to enter into the holiest, by a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh (Hebrews 10:19-20). The martyr passes through death by the same door his Lord opened, and finds the Lord Himself standing at the threshold. To die in Christ is to fall asleep beneath an open heaven, into the hands of the Mediator who rose to receive us.
Questions people ask
Why is Jesus shown standing rather than seated?
Scripture usually shows Christ seated at God's right hand, His saving work finished. Stephen sees Him standing, which many understand as the Lord rising to welcome and receive His first martyr, to honor and intercede for His faithful witness. It is a moving picture of Christ's personal care for those who suffer for His name.
Does every Christian see a vision like this at death?
No. Stephen's vision was a particular gift for a landmark moment in the early church. But its comfort belongs to every believer: to die in Christ is to fall asleep in the sight of a waiting Savior. We rest not on visions but on the promise of the risen Lord.
How could Stephen forgive those killing him?
He was full of the Holy Ghost and fixed on Christ, echoing his Lord's own prayer from the cross, Father, forgive them. The sight of the open heaven freed him from fear and bitterness. It shows the power of Christ's grace to make even a dying man merciful toward his enemies.