Daily Scripture Reading Acts 25:17 - 26:8
If you start asking random people if it is possible to rise from the dead, many of them will say no and perhaps look at you like you are out of your mind. The general consensus in the modern world denies the supernatural in favor of only believing facts that can be tested and observed.
The Christian claim that Jesus rose from the dead creates a lot of skepticism among those outside Christianity. Therefore, it is very tempting for Christians to side step this issue so that we don’t give non-Christians any reason to doubt our mental stability.
The problem with ignoring this issue is that the resurrection is the central tenet of Christianity. Anyone who does not believe Jesus rose from the dead is not saved.
Today’s passage shows us how Paul addressed this issue when he was speaking to Governor Festus and King Agrippa. Paul did not ignore or sidestep the issue. He addressed it directly. Perhaps we should do the same.
At the end of the passage we read yesterday, Festus was the governor, and he was hosting King Agrippa. Festus explained that he had a prisoner left by Felix, and since the Jews were demanding a sentence of condemnation against this prisoner whose name was Paul, Festus invited the Jews to make their case.
The following verses are a continuation of Festus’ conversation with Agrippa.
Acts 25:17 So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on the judgment seat and ordered the man to be brought before me.
The pronouns “I”, “my”, and “me” refers to Governor Festus. The pronoun “they” refers to the Jews. The word “man” refers to Paul.
Acts 25:18 When the accusers stood up, they were not bringing any charges against him for the evil deeds I was expecting,
Festus admitted Paul was not even accused of anything deserving of death. We read yesterday in Acts 25:7-9 that the Jews could not prove any of their charges, but Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor so he did not release Paul.
Acts 25:19 but they had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man whom Paul asserted to be alive.
It appears Festus was not familiar with the Jewish religion.
Take notice that Festus understood there was a debate as to whether Jesus was dead or alive. That will be important later.
Acts 25:20 And being perplexed about how to investigate such matters, I was asking whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there to be tried on these matters.
Note the word “perplexed”. If indeed Festus was not familiar with Judaism, then he would have had no context or background for evaluating what he was hearing.
Acts 25:21 But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.”
Paul was in a “no win” situation. If Festus sent him to Jerusalem, he was sure to be either killed on the way or convicted by a biased court. On the other hand, he could not be released after he appealed to Caesar since he had to be sent to Caesar to be tried.
Acts 25:22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”
Acts 25:23 ¶ So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the hall accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the order of Festus, Paul was brought in.
Acts 25:24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen here present with us, you see this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer.
Acts 25:25 But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
Acts 25:26 Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write.
Acts 25:27 For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate also the charges against him.”
Festus was in a predicament. It would look bad for him to send a prisoner without indicating the charges; on the other hand, this predicament was Festus’ fault because he did not release Paul when it became obvious that the Jews did not have any charges against Paul which the Romans would consider worthy of death.
Acts 26:1 ¶ Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul, stretching out his hand, began to make his defense:
Acts 26:2 ¶ “Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I regard myself blessed, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today;
Acts 26:3 especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
Unlike Festus, apparently Agrippa was familiar with Judaism and could intelligently evaluate the dispute between Paul and the Jewish leaders.
Acts 26:4 ¶ “So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem;
Acts 26:5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.
Acts 26:6 And now I am standing here being tried for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers;
Acts 26:7 the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews.
Paul got to the real issue which Agrippa would understand. The Jews believed in a coming Messiah. Paul believed Jesus is the Messiah. The Jews who were opposed to Paul denied Jesus is the Messiah. It was their difference in opinion over this issue that caused the Jews to demand the death of Paul.
Acts 26:8 Why is it considered unbelievable among all of you if God does raise the dead?
We saw earlier in chapter 25 verse 19 that Festus picked up on the fact that a central point of contention between Paul and the Jews was whether Jesus was dead or alive. Paul and the Jews agreed that Jesus had been crucified. However, the Jews did not agree with Paul that Jesus had risen from the dead.
In light of that debate, Paul asked Festus and Agrippa why they thought it unbelievable that God can raise the dead. After all, by definition, God is supernatural; therefore, anyone who believes in God should at least find it plausible that God can raise the dead.
Paul asked this question because believing in the resurrection is a central requirement for being saved. Anyone who does not believe Jesus rose from the dead is not saved.
This question about whether God can raise the dead is one of the chief issues that needs to be addressed today. We live in a society where many claim to be atheists, rejecting the idea that God even exists. If they deny the existence of God, then they are going to repudiate the idea that people rise from the dead and have an existence after life on earth. In order for them to gain eternal life, they need to be confronted with the reality that God exists, Jesus is God, and Jesus rose from the dead.
There are others who believe in God, but reject the claim that Jesus is God and rose from the dead. They may deny there is life after death. If they believe in God but not the resurrection, then a helpful question to ask them may be why they think it is unbelievable that God raises the dead.
Think about the unbelievers you interact with on a regular basis. What is their opinion regarding the Christian claim that Jesus rose from the dead?
When you interact with non-believers, do you sidestep the issue of the resurrection because you know they will question your intelligence if you claim Jesus rose from the dead?
What is the biggest hindrance prohibiting them from accepting the truth of the resurrection?
How can you present the truth of the resurrection in a way that leads people from denying the resurrection to believing Jesus rose from the dead?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”