Theme: The active, ascended Christ

Exegetical note
Stephen's vision of the ascended Christ in heaven prior to his own martyrdom is curious for two reasons: 1) his use of the phrase "Son of Man," otherwise used in the New Testament almost exclusively only by Jesus (but cf. Rev. 1:13, also in a vision!) and with eschatological if not apocalyptic overtones; and (2) his image of the Christ standing rather than sitting at God s right hand. What both of these suggest is a Christ not resting on his laurels but ready to become active, either to receive the spirit of …