The Hope of the Resurrection

 

We are going through the Book of Acts at church and have just recently finished chapters 23-26. Paul is on trial before Jewish and Roman authorities and there is a theme that runs through his defense like a mighty river. I think it is exciting and insightful, for here we see Paul’s heart. I just want to simply quote him, with very little added commentary.

Paul before the chief priests and all their council

23:6  …Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

“This was Paul's cardinal doctrine as a Christian minister. It was this fact that convinced him that Jesus was the Messiah and was the very centre of his faith  and of his preaching.” †

“St. Paul had preached the resurrection of the dead, on the foundation and evidence of the resurrection of Christ. For this, he and the apostles were, some time before, imprisoned by the high priest and elders, because they preached, through Jesus, the resurrection of the dead.” ‡

Paul before Felix

24:14  But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

15  And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

the way – this seems to have been an early description of the faith

24:21  Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

24:22  And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way…

Agrippa agrees to hear Paul’s case

25:19  But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

“And of one Jesus. This is the climax of supercilious scorn toward both Paul and 'one Jesus.' Who was dead…Whom Paul affirmed to be alive. With all his toploftical airs Festus has here correctly stated the central point of Paul's preaching about Jesus as no longer dead, but living.” †

Toploftical – (I love this, but had to look it up!) a rare, informal, and often humorous adjective from the 19th century describing someone as haughty, arrogant, or disdainfully superior.

Paul before Agrippa

26:6  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

26:7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

26:8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?Once again, it seems clear that the hope Paul is speaking of is the resurrection of the dead. 

“hope to come (26:7) is the very same word which Paul, in Phi 3:11, uses to express the same thing: If by any means, I might attain to, the resurrection of the dead.” ‡

What is this mighty river that runs through Paul’s defense? It is the resurrection of the dead. And he makes it very clear that this was not some new doctrine he had introduced, it was the hope of the Jews, which was based on the law and the prophets. This hope was tied to their hope of the coming Messiah. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead confirmed two powerful truths: (1) Jesus was declared Son of God with power (Rom 1:4) and (2) there will be a resurrection of the dead. This is what Paul believed; this is what Paul preached; this is where he took his stand – There will be a resurrection of the dead. This is really cool!

Philippians 3:8-11 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

† Word Pictures in the New Testament, Archibald Thomas (A.T.) Robertson (1863 – 1934).

‡ Commentary on the Bible, Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832), Irish writer, biblical scholar, Methodist theologian.