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 49: The Golden Rule
Life of Christ Lesson 48: The Prayer Promise! {Ask, Seek, Knock!}
Life of Christ Lesson 47: The Criticism Rule {Controversial ”Judge Not” Statement}
Life of Christ Lesson 46: The Worry Rule {Christ Teaches on Anxiety}
Life of Christ Lesson 45: The Treasure Rule {A Serious Message about Materialism}
Life of Christ Lesson 44: How to Pray Effectively - Part II
Life of Christ Lesson 43: How to Pray Effectively - Part I
Life of Christ Lesson 42: Beware of Religious Hypocrisy!
Life of Lesson Christ 41: Loving and Living Supernaturally
Life of Christ Lesson 40: Resisting Personal Retaliation
Life of Christ Lesson 39: Taking Oaths/Speaking Truth
Life of Christ Lesson 38: New Testament Teaching on Divorce {And Remarriage}
Life of Christ Lesson 37: Old Testament Teaching on Divorce
Life of Christ Lesson 36: Heart Righteousness {Adultery}
Life of Christ Lesson 35: Heart Righteousness {Murder}
Life of Christ Lesson 34: The Reliabilty of Scripture!
Life of Christ Lesson 33: Shake and Shine!
Life of Christ Lesson 32: Highway to Happiness - Part IV
Life of Christ Lesson 31: Highway to Happiness - Part III
Life of Christ Lesson 30: Highway to Happiness - Part II
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