Acts 24:10-21
10 And when the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,
11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12 And neither in the temple did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself.
13 Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.
14 But I confess this to you, that in accordance with the Way, which they call a sect, I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and is written in the Prophets;
15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
16 In view of this I also do my best to maintain a blameless conscience both before God and before other people, always.
17 Now after several years I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and to present offerings,
18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia—
19 who ought to have been present before you and to have been bringing charges, if they should have anything against me.
20 Or else have these men themselves declare what violation they discovered when I stood before the Council,
21 other than in regard to this one declaration which I shouted while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today!’ ”
Faith in the Resurrection
The central theme of Paul’s defense
Before moving forward, let us examine what the Bible teaches about the resurrection. “Believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves…” (1) Paul’s defense turned into a gospel message, with resurrection as its central theme. (a) Paul argued that the resurrection is a truth prophesied in the Old Testament. (b) A person’s way of life is determined by whether they believe in the resurrection. Paul lived with a clear conscience. (c) Christianity is a faith in the resurrection. Did Christ die for my sins? Did Christ rise from the dead? How one answers these two questions determines their destiny. (2) Paul believed in the resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. (a) This is the only place in the New Testament where Paul mentions the resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. (b) Scriptures that teach about the resurrection of the righteous and the wicked include Daniel 12:2 and John 5:28-29. (3) The Bible distinguishes between the first resurrection and the second resurrection. Only believers will partake in the first resurrection (Rev. 20:5-6). (a) The first resurrection occurs in stages: the resurrection of Christ as the first fruits, the resurrection of the church saints at the rapture, and the resurrection of the Old Testament saints and the martyrs of the Great Tribulation at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. (b) “Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” The second death refers to eternal destruction. (c) Those who believe in Christ will experience physical death but will not enter eternal destruction. (4) The resurrection of unbelievers is called the second resurrection (Rev. 20:13-15). (a) The second resurrection occurs at the end of the Millennial Kingdom. This means there is a thousand-year gap between the first and second resurrection. (b) The second resurrection also happens in stages: the resurrection of the Antichrist, followed by the resurrection of all unbelievers from every generation before the Judgment of the Great White Throne. There is a thousand-year gap between the resurrection of the Antichrist and the resurrection of unbelievers. (c) The first resurrection is for receiving honor from God, while the second resurrection is for receiving judgment from God. (d) Unbelievers will have their bodies and souls reunited to stand before the Judgment of the Great White Throne. Believing in the resurrection of Christ also means believing in His work of redemption. Those who accept Christ as their Savior have peace with God.
Today's prayer
Father God, Christ has truly risen. In Christ, believers will also partake in the resurrection. Today, I will walk with this hope. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.