The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast
Religion & Spirituality
This is the conclusion of the longest sermon in the Book of Acts - and likely the most important. Stephen had reviewed Israel's history and the great contributions of some of her most honored leaders (Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon). The High Court of Israel had gotten a quick overview of her history, which the men permitted Stephen to present because they loved to hear about themselves. However, slowly, his selective presentation started to get uncomfortable as they began to realize where his focus on their "rejection of deliverers" pattern of behavior was going. Was he really going to indict them for having rejected (and killed) Jesus?! Would he dare to go that far!?
Yes, he would, even though he knew it would likely cost him his life. Realizing his listeners were reaching the end of their tolerance of him and were about to make him stop, Stephen catapulted into his application-rebuke - and it was BOLD and BLUNT! After calling them "stiff-necked" and uncircumcised in heart and ears, He told them, ". . . ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye" (Acts 7:51)! He also accused them of the betrayal and murder of "the Just One" - and they knew he spoke of Jesus and used for Him a title only reserved for God!
Stephen's phenomenal use of his two-edged sword, the Word of God, hit its target. The Sanhedrin Council members "were cut to the heart" (7:54). Their hypocritically pious masks were torn off and they were exposed for the false shepherds they were. Yet, rather than repent, they gnashed their teeth in seething anger. THEY had been the ones on trial, and they were guilty of having blasphemed everything God had ever given them! They could not defend themselves, so they decided they would silence the one who spoke the truth about their depraved hearts. Saul of Tarsus was among them; little did they know he would soon pick-up where Stephen left off! Truth cannot be silenced, much as men might try.
Life of Christ 101c: Five Warnings - Part III {Parable of Faithful Servants}
Life of Christ Lesson 101b: Five Warnings - Part II {Parable of the Rich Fool}
Life of Christ Lesson 101a: Five Warnings - Part I {Hypocrisy & Covetousness}
Life of Christ Lesson 100: Six Woes! {Also, Christ Accused of Being in League with Satan}
Life of Christ Lesson 99: Choosing the Good Part {Martha and Mary}
Life of Christ Lesson 98: The Good Samaritan {Who is Your Neighbor?}
Life of Christ Lesson 97: Sending the Seventy {”Lambs Among Wolves”; Degrees of Hell?}
Life of Christ Lessons 95b/96: The Good Shepherd Sermon - Parts I and II
Life of Christ Lesson 95a: The Good Shepherd Sermon - Part I
Life of Christ Lesson 94b: The Light Gives Sight - Part II cont. {Religious Persecution}
Life of Christ Lesson 94a: The Light Gives Sight - Part II {Religious Persecution}
Life of Christ Lesson 93: The Light Gives Sight - Part I {A Doubly-Great Miracle}
Life of Christ Lesson 92: True Emancipation Proclamation - Part II {Jesus’ Response to Being Called a Devil}
Life of Christ Lesson 91: True Emancipation Proclamation - Part I
Life of Christ Lesson 90: The Light of the World - Part II
Life of Christ Lesson 89: The Light of the World - Part I {A Super-Packed Study of Enlightenment}
Life of Christ Lesson 88: Dilemma After the Feast {The Adulteress Woman}
Life of Christ Lesson 87: Division at End of the Feast {Learn about the Feast of Tabernacles}
Life of Christ Lesson 86: Debate in the Midst of the Feast
Life of Christ Lesson 85: On the Road to Rejection {Spurned by Siblings and Samaritans}
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