⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,^(A) looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.^(B)

¹⁹ After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven^(A) and he sat at the right hand of God.^(B)

³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory^(A) and the exact representation of his being,^(B) sustaining all things^(C) by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,^(D) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.^(E)

⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a](A) made his light shine in our hearts^(B) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.^(C)

¹⁰ But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.^(A)

⁵ This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen,^(A) a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;^(B) also Philip,^(C) Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

The Throne in Heaven

4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open^(A) in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet^(B) said, “Come up here,^(C) and I will show you what must take place after this.”^{(D) 2} At once I was in the Spirit,^(E) and there before me was a throne in heaven^(F) with someone sitting on it. ³ And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper^(G) and ruby.^(H) A rainbow^(I) that shone like an emerald^(J) encircled the throne.

The High Priest of a New Covenant

8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,^(A) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,^(B)

Stephen Seized

⁸ Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs^(A) among the people.