In Acts 23:11, we learn that Jesus, after the ascension "stood" (ἐφίστημι) at Paul's side (Acts 23:11). This refutes some critics who appeal to Acts 3:19-21 as a “proof-text” against the belief that Jesus would appear in the New World, as recorded in the Book of Mormon (see Responding to "Mormons teach Jesus came many times").
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This is how BDAG defines the term (notice
how it references Acts 23:11 for this “realistic” meaning):
1. to stand at
or near a specific place, stand at/near, of living
entities and oft. w. connotation of suddenness, pres. and aor. w. dat. of pers.
Lk 2:9; 24:4 (of angels, as Diod. S. 1, 25, 5 of Isis in a dream;
Lucian, Dial. Deor. 17, 1 of Hephaestus; SIG 1168, 37 ὁ θεὸς ἐπιστάς; TestSol 1:8 ἐν ᾗ ἂν ὥρᾳ ἐπιστῇ σοι τὸ δαιμόνιον; Jos., Ant. 3, 188. Of a figure in a dream Hdt. 5, 56); Ac 4:1; 12:7
D; 23:11. ἐπεστάθη μοι she approached me Hv 3, 1, 6. ἐπί τι approach or stand by someth. (Sir
41:24) Ac 10:17; 11:11. ἐπάνω τινός stand at someone’s head Lk 4:39 (cp. 2 Km 1:9). περιστερὰ … ἐπεστάθη ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τοῦ Ἰωσήφ a dove … perched on the head
of Joseph GJs 9:1 e;vπετάσθη v.l.). Abs. (EpArist 177) Lk 2:38; 10:40; 20:1; Ac
6:12; 12:7; 22:13; 23:27; 1 Cl 12:4; MPol 6:1; GJs 4:1
v.l.; AcPl Ha 4, 8.—Perf. stand by, be present αὐτὸς ἤμην ἐφεστώς I (myself) was standing by Ac 22:20 (cp. Jos., Vi. 294).
I mention this as some commentaries
believe that this is a “dream vision.”
Notwithstanding his belief it was a “dream
vision,” Carl R. Holladay did provide a good discussion of the Old Testament
background to this event:
Formally the Lord’s reassurance of Paul in a night vision
resembles Daniel’s vision, in which a heavenly figure, “one in human form,”
calms his fears, saying “Be strong and courageous!” The Lord’s charge to “take
courage” (tharsei) also echoes Hag
2:4, in which YHWH issues the same challenge to Zerubbabel, Joshua son of
Jehozadak, the high priest, and all of the people of the land, reassuring them,
“for I am with you, says the Lord of
hosts.” Paul’s testimony in Jerusalem refers to his address in the temple
(22:3–21), yet probably includes his earlier testimony (9:28). His plans to
“see Rome,” earlier formulated on his own (19:21), are now confirmed by the
risen Lord himself. (Carl R. Holladay, Acts: A Commentary [The New
Testament Library; Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 2016], 436)
