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The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast
Hosted by Caldwell Commentaries · EN
The Caldwell Commentaries dive deep into the Bible to reveal the amazing truths God has shared with mankind about HIStory, salvation in Christ, and the future! Be prepared for some spiritual heartburn!
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Acts Lesson 11: The Persecution Begins {Good Lesson for our Times!}
3w ago01:18:31Tap to summarizeWhile Peter (accompanied by John and the healed lame man) was still in the midst of his powerful second sermon (Acts 3:12-26), he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of "the priests . . . the captain of the Temple [guard] . . . and the Sadducees" (4:1). They came to arrest both Peter and John (likely also the former lame man). These enemies of Christ were not only furious that His followers were preaching His resurrection, but doing so in broad daylight in the Temple! Interestingly, in Acts, it is primarily the Sadducees who take the lead in persecuting the Church. This is because their erroneous theology taught there is no resurrection of the dead! In this lesson (Acts 4:1-22), we not only discuss the interruption of Peter's sermon (the arrest), but the interrogation he and John faced the next morning before the Sanhedrin Council, the inspiration of Peter's remarkable speech in answer to that interrogation, the immense impression his speech made on the Council, and then their intention to silence them with threats to never speak or teach in the name of Jesus again! The response of the two Apostles to the threat of those in authority over them to never preach of Jesus was fantastic!! They would obey the Higher Authority, God! Anti-Christian governments and powerful institutions are increasingly trying to stop the spread of the Gospel message of Christ Jesus - we need to follow the example of Peter and John!
Transcribe →Acts Lesson 10: Second Church Sermon {Peter’s Sharpened Sword}
3w ago01:12:59Tap to summarizeThe healed lame man (see Lesson 9) was not only immediately very public about his over-flowing joy, but also about his praise to God and his thankfulness to the men the Lord used to perform his miracle. Those men were Peter and John. The Apostolic sign-miracle was divinely orchestrated to draw a large, very willing-to-listen crowd to whom Peter than had an opportunity to preach "The Second Church Sermon. The theme of the first sermon was that God made Jesus Who Israel had crucified both Lord and Christ (2:36). The theme of this second sermon was the God wanted to bless the people through His Son Jesus by turning them from your iniquities (3:26). In just seven verses, Peter again yielded his new sword (the Word of God), under the leading of the Spirit, to exalt the name of Jesus. He referred to Jesus as "the Holy One," "the Just," "the Prince of life," "Christ," and a Prophet of the Lord like unto Moses. The sermon was Christ-centered, Scriptural, highly theological, bold yet compassionately confrontational, and applicational. Peter's sermon was only seven verses long because it was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the priests with the captain of the Temple guard and the Sadducees. They came collectively to arrest both Peter and John (and maybe even the former lame man with them).
Transcribe →Acts Lesson 9: Greater Than Silver or Gold {New Life for the Lame}
3w ago01:07:00Tap to summarizeThis lesson is on Acts 3:1-11, Peter's healing (with John) of a lame man (who had never walked) at the Beautiful Gate, begging for alms. To his plea, Peter spoke the famous words, "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" - and the man who had never stood on his own legs before, much less know how to walk, immediately leaped up, walked, went into the Temple walking, leaping, and praising God! Isn't it wonderful the former lame man knew to whom the praise belonged? He did not kiss the hand of Peter; nor did he even praise Peter. His praise went to the Lord, Who the man knew and understood had done the healing through His servants! "The power was Christ's, but the hand was Peter's" (Thomas Walker). This was the Lord continuing His work on earth through His Church by His Spirit. This was an Apostolic miracle. This miracle confirmed the great sermon he had just preached (his first, and the first of the Church Age). Remember - the miracle confirmed the message, and it was the message that produced the fruit!
Transcribe →Acts Lesson 8: Early Church Life {An Awe-some Church}
3w ago00:53:18Tap to summarizeFrom Acts 2:42-47, Luke takes us into the early life of the Church; the days and weeks that followed as the 3,120 "charter members" of the Church met together and grew, both in knowledge and in number ("deep and wide")! The Book of Acts is the record of the first generation of the Church and how that one generation expanded to the uttermost part of the world at that time. If we really want to know what the Early Church was like in her character, we look at these verses (2:42-47). We discuss the desired characteristics of the surrendered Early Church, the divine confirmations of the Spirit-filled Early Church, and the daily consequences of the sanctified Early Church. The Early Church had an invigoration and vibrancy that was yet unaffected by the wrinkles, scars, and gray hairs that come from troubles and trials. She was yet naive about the things that lay ahead. Like the freshness, wonder, and purity of a newborn, the Early Church had leaders who had a vivid remembrance of Jesus, Who had so recently walked with them. The Early Church was unified! She may have been inexperienced and naive in certain ways, but she was a model Church in spirit (not perfect, for she was comprised of sinners saved by grace). We can benefit greatly by studying the characteristics that made-up the Earthly Church.
Transcribe →Acts Lesson 7: Early Church Growth {Piercing 3,000 Hearts}
3w ago01:08:20Tap to summarizeIn the previous lesson (Lesson #6), we discussed "The First Sermon" ever preached during the God-designed period of time known as "The Church Age". I was preached by a completely restored Peter, who now yielded a new sword, the two-edged sword of the Spirit, the only offensive weapon of the Christian warrior. It was the "fully come" Day of Pentecost - the fulfillment of all God planned it to be when He first gave His prophetic, Messianic, redemptive calendar to His people in Leviticus 23. It was the day proclaimed through Joel when God would pour-out His Spirit on "all flesh" - whether Jew, Gentile, man, woman, free, or slave. When the Spirit came, as the Father promised once His Son was glorified, the 120 believers were baptized by Christ with the Spirit into the mystical, spiritual body the Old Testament saints knew nothing about - the Church! In this lesson, we review Peter's powerful, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Christ-centered sermon, and then we discuss the results! There was: 1. Great Conviction, which was summarized by the people with one question, "What shall we do?" Then there was 2. Peter's Great Solution, "Repent! Come to Jesus for the remission of sins!" 3. This was followed with Peter's Invitation (2:40), and the wonderful conclusion was Great Addition! Much fruit in 3,000 human souls was added to the new-born Church!
Transcribe →Acts Lesson 6: The First Church Sermon {Peter’s New Sword}
4w ago01:10:47Tap to summarizeThis lesson (from Acts 2:14-36) is our look at the first sermon of the Church Age! It was preached by Peter, who (amazingly) only 53 days earlier had committed the greatest denial of the Lord Jesus in history (it was the greatest because it was committed by a believer - and one who had the fantastic spiritual privilege of being the leader of the Lord's Apostles). When we hear what "foot-in-mouth," impetuous Peter preached - now that he had been fully and gracious restored to his position in the Apostolate by the resurrected Lord Himself (John 21:15-19 - see our podcast Lesson # from the Life of Christ study), we realize the answer to Christ's prayers for Peter (who Satan had desired to sift as wheat). Peter's Spirit-filled, Spirit-led message was entirely Christ-centered, which is what all preaching should be! It was also very practical, which all preaching should be! His sermon is filled with application (what to do with the Truth one learns about Christ). Learn what Peter meant when he quoted from the Prophet Joel in his sermon! Learn what the terms "day of the Lord" and "prophesy" in his sermon refer to. Learn, too, about the tremendous fruit from this very first Church sermon in the lesson to follow, Lesson 7, "Early Church Growth".
Transcribe →Acts Lesson 5: A New Birth {The Church is Born}
4w ago01:07:08Tap to summarizeLearn about the amazing morning when the Church was born in light of its prophetic significance! It will amaze you how God fit everything the Jews did that day in celebration of the Feast of Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) - like read from the Books of Ezekiel and Habakkuk, which speak of whirlwind and brightness around an amber-colored fire that infolded itself, and a voice of a great rushing wind, and of a time of silence, followed by speech and God remembering mercy in His wrath. We discuss the difference between the baptism of the Spirit and the filling of the Spirit in this lesson. We also discuss an interesting comparison/contrast between the work of God at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) and the work of God on Pentecost (Acts 2:2-13). We also discuss "the tongues" that the believers in Christ spoke when the Holy Spirit gifted them for the special occasion!
Transcribe →Acts Lesson 4: A Meaningful Day {The Fully Come Pentecost} SEVEN FEAST DAYS’ OVERVIEW!
4w ago01:12:20Tap to summarizeA great SUMMARY of the 7 GOD-GIVEN FEAST DAYS, which serve as PROPHETIC PICTURE-TYPES of the MAJOR EVENTS in His OVERALL REDEMPTION PLAN (4 Spring Feasts: Christ's First Coming / 3 Fall Feasts: His Second Coming). The Feast of Weeks (in Hebrew, Shavuot and in Greek, Pentecost) is the fourth Spring feast given to Israel by God in Leviticus 23. It comes 50 days after the third Spring feast, the Feast of Firstfruits. It was on the 50th day of her "new life" (freedom from her bondage to Egypt) that God, from Mount Sinai, gave Israel the Torah (the Law). The rabbis declare this to be the "birth" of Judaism. Is it not fascinating that the same feast day is celebrated by the Jews as the birth of Judaism and by Christians as the birth of the Church! The Spirit's arrival on Pentecost 50 days after Christ's resurrection on the Feast of Firstfruits was the fulfillment of the Feast of Weeks. This is what Luke meant when he wrote, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come" (Acts 2:1). A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO LEARN!
Transcribe →Acts Lesson 3: A Productive Wait {Selection of Matthias to Replace Judas: Right or Wrong?}
Jul 1201:09:29Tap to summarizeThis lesson is on Acts 1:12-26 and what the disciples of Christ did after His Ascension. They were told by Him to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father. We discuss all those we know were included in the 120 disciples, as well as others we speculate may have been included. We learn about their unified minds (they were all in "one accord") and their passionate prayers and the very high regard they had for the Word of God! We also discuss the decision of the eleven Apostles to appoint a replacement for Judas, who had betrayed the Lord (and had then hung himself). We discuss the three qualifications needed to be one of the Twelve. We also discuss how it was that Matthias, whose name means "gift of God," was chosen - and if this choice was "of God". Was not Paul the Lord's choice for Judas' replacement? Tune in to find out!
Transcribe →Acts Lesson 2: A Last Look {The Ascension - Up, Up, and Away!}
Jul 1001:00:36Tap to summarizeThe Lord's final post-resurrection appearance. It took place in Jerusalem, where He was again with His Apostles, teaching them for the last time about Himself from the Old Testament Scriptures. When He completed His teaching session, He took His men to the Mount of Olives; the same place He had gone 43 days earlier to pray in Gethsemane and then allowed Himself to be arrested. It had been the appointed hour for Him to be lifted up on a cross to die for the sins of the world. Now, in His glorified, resurrected body, it was the appointed hour for Him to again be lifted up, but not on a cross! This time, He would defy gravity and return to the glory He had with His Father in Eternity Past. Do you know what the last act of the Lord Jesus was before He left this earth? He lifted up His forever nailed-scarred hands to bless the men He entrusted with the task of blessing the world with the message of the blessed Gospel of salvation in Him! Learn about Christ's Ascension, and the important words of two angelic messengers to the Apostles about His one-day Return!
Transcribe →