Note 1 at Ac 7:55: The Greek word used here for "looked up stedfastly" is "ATENIZO," and it means "to gaze intently" (Strong's Concordance). It was also translated "behold earnestly" and "set eyes." Stephen did not just glance up. He purposely focused his attention on Jesus. He was rewarded with a glimpse of the risen Christ standing at the right hand of God, and this enabled him to endure the agony of being stoned to death.

The key to enduring any of the afflictions the devil sends our way is to look beyond the problem unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). Paul was able to say that all his troubles were just a "light affliction, which is but for a moment" (2Co 4:17), because he was looking not at his problems that could be seen but at the great reward God had for him that could not be seen (2Co 4:18).

What we focus our attention on determines our attitude. Everyone has problems, but not everyone has a bad attitude. Circumstances cannot force us into defeat. Stephen chose to look at Jesus instead of his situation and was therefore able to triumph in it.

Note 2 at Ac 7:55: This is the only reference in Scripture to Jesus standing at the Father's right hand (compare with Ps 110:1; Mt 26:64; Mr 14:62; Lu 22:69; Ac 2:33-34; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3, 13, and 8:1). Heb 10:12 even draws special attention to Jesus being seated at the Father's right hand to illustrate that His work was complete.

It is possible that this single record of Jesus standing at the Father's right hand was Jesus paying special honor to Stephen, His first martyr. This becomes more probable when we consider Stephen's use of the term "Son of man." This term was used throughout the Gospels to designate Jesus' humanity and association with mankind (see note 3 at Mt 9:6). Jesus as a God-man knew exactly what Stephen was suffering (Heb 4:15).