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!
Acts Lesson 15: Happy to Suffer for Jesus!
Acts Lesson 14: Evangelism Explosion
Acts Lesson 13: Sin From Within {Ananias and Sapphria; Why were they struck dead?}
Acts Lesson 12: How the Church is to Respond to Persecution
Acts Lesson 11: The Persecution Begins {Good Lesson for our Day!}
Acts Lesson 10: Second Church Sermon {Peter’s Sharpened Sword}
Acts Lesson 9: Greater Than Silver or Gold {New Life for the Lame}
Acts Lesson 8: Early Church Life {An Awe-some Church}
Acts Lesson 7: Early Church Growth {Piercing 3,000 Hearts}
Jet Tour Through the Bible! ”What on Earth is Going On?”
Acts Lesson 6: The First Church Sermon {Peter’s New Sword}
Acts Lesson 5: A New Birth {The Church is Born}
Acts Lesson 4: A Meaningful Day {The Fully Come Pentecost} SEVEN FEAST DAYS’ OVERVIEW!
Acts Lesson 3: A Productive Wait {Selection of Matthias to Replace Judas: Right or Wrong?}
Acts Lesson 2: A Last Look {The Ascension - Up, Up, and Away!}
Acts Lesson 1: The Continuing Work {Linking the 4 Gospels to the Book of Acts}
Life of Christ Lesson 193b: The Grand Finale - Part II
Life of Christ Lesson 193a: The Grand Finale - Part I
Life of Christ Lesson 192: Peter’s ”Public” Restoration
Life of Christ Lesson 191: Fishers of Men
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