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 102: The Need to Repent {Parable of the Barren Fig Tree}
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
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Devoted To Prayer
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Bible Recap
BardsFM