Acts 7 Insights and Commentary

[alexshatner]

Acts 7: verse 56, indicates two persons: “And he said: ‘Look! I behold the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand.’” He does not say the Son of man, Christ Jesus, is Jehovah God, but that he was standing at God’s right hand.
Not only does Stephen’s request, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, ” not prove the trinity, but Jesus’ similar fervent prayer, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit, ” conclusively shows that Jesus is not the same as his Father Jehovah.—Luke 23:46.
In the wording of his prayer Stephen showed that he understood the difference between Jehovah and the Lord Jesus as set out in Psalm 110:1 and applied by Jesus at Matthew 22:42-46. He was not perplexed by Jesus’ application of it, as were the Pharisees to whom Jesus spoke and who were silenced by his answer.
Jesus had taught his followers that the Father authorized him to raise others to life. (John 5:26; 6:40; 11:25, 26) So it was proper for Stephen to petition Jesus over this matter, and his prayer indicates proper understanding on his part. It does not support the trinity.
On this Occasion Satan wanted Jesus to worship him, and Jesus corrected Satan by saying
(Luke 4:8) In reply Jesus said to him: “It is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”

And in another location Jesus, went out and prayed Directly to God
(Luke 6:12) On one of those days he went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God.