A Year in Luke/ActsSample

Paul’s speech begins with him providing evidence of his innocence and even refutes the accusations brought against him. He then moves into a theological defense. Similarly to the speech in Athens, there is no mention of Jesus in this context. Instead, Paul argues that he is a faithful Jew, loyal to the law and the prophets. Yet again, the defining factor that he concludes with in two sections of his speech: the resurrection. Notice how this is not connected to the resurrection of Jesus at this point, though, but the resurrection of humanity.

Although the modern church often talks about the need to “learn from the church of Acts” it is striking how we often miss the fact that for them the future resurrection of humanity was so important to the gospel about Jesus. What the Jews had thought would happen to every human at the end of time happened to Jesus as the “firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18). Jesus brought the promise of new creation and the kingdom of God close. Many contemporary Christians believe that the goal is to die and go to heaven as a spirit for eternity, rather than be resurrected at the return of Jesus after becoming a new creation here and now (Revelation 20, 1 Corinthians 15). When we believe that there is a future resurrection for all people, as Paul did, it means that “Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people” (v16).