The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast
Religion & Spirituality
Stephen had "an irresistible ministry"! He was a Scripture-scholar, extremely skilled and astute in using the Old Testament to defend his faith in Jesus. He was a Christian apologist ("apologia" is a Greek word that refers to "a speech in defense of something").
Stephen's POWERFUL message of Acts chapter 7 was basically a last major appeal to the leadership of Israel (the Sanhedrin Council) to accept Jesus as the long-promised Messiah. Stephen was brought for trial before the Council, falsely accused of four things: speaking blasphemous words (1) against Moses, (2) against God, (3) against the Temple, and (4) against the Law. While he stood before his opponents and their lying accusations, his face was glowing with the righteousness of truth and the glory of God! Amazing. By visibly putting His "glory stamp" on Stephen's face, the Lord Jesus was showing forth His approval of the message he had been proclaiming in the synagogues and which he was about to proclaim in Acts 7.
Stephen's message was his response to the evil high priest's question, "Are these things so?" - referring to the four accusations against him. In verses 2 to 50, he managed to keep his hostile listeners' attention by talking about their favorite subject: themselves and their heritage! Yet, as he reviewed the major periods of Jewish history, he indirectly was responding to the false and accusations against him and building his case against them! His sermon is brilliant on so many levels! It was completely irrefutable, and cost him his life.
In this lesson, Stephen began his "history lesson" regarding Israel's period of the patriarchs by speaking about Abraham. You have to listen to how absolutely clever Stephen was in using "father" Abraham to convict the Jews of their own sinful prejudices!
Life of Christ Lesson 65: The Ordination Sermon - Part III
Life of Christ Lesson 64b: The Ordination Sermon- Part II
Life of Christ Lesson 64a: The Ordination Sermon - Part I
Life of Christ Lesson 63: Binding Blindness
Life of Christ Lesson 62b: The Great Physician {Raising a Dead Girl} - Part III
Life of Christ Lesson 62a: The Great Physician {Touching the Hem} - Part II
Life of Christ Lesson 61: The Great Physician {Delivering Demons} - Part I
Life of Christ Lesson 60: Handling Life’s Storms! MUCH NEEDED TODAY!
Life of Christ Lesson 59: Mystery Kingdom Separation
Life of Christ Lesson 58: Mystery Kingdom Sprouting
Life of Christ Lesson 57b: Mystery Kingdom Sowing
Life of Christ Lesson 57a: Mystery Kingdom Sowing - Part I {What about God’s Promise of a Messianic Kingdom if Israel Rejected her King?}
Life of Christ Lesson 56: The Misunderstood Messiah {Also Parables of Divided Kingdom, Subduing the Strong Man, and the Empty House}
Life of Christ Lesson 55: To Whom Much is Given . . .
Life of Christ Lesson 54: Christ Responds to Doubt {Compassion - Part II} The Baptist’s Doubt!
Life of Christ Lesson 53: Christ Responds to Faith and Despair {Compassion - Part I}
Life of Christ Lesson 52: The Two Builders
Life of Christ Lesson 51: The Two Trees
Life of Christ Lesson 50: The Two Gates
Life of Christ Lesson 49: The Golden Rule
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