Think on these questions as you dwell in Acts 25:1-26:11:

1. Paul emphasizes the resurrection as a central theme in his defense, highlighting that it is the message causing persecution. In contemporary society, how can Christians effectively communicate the significance of the resurrection as a foundational aspect of the gospel, especially when engaging with those who may find it difficult to accept?

2. The core of Paul's message, centered on the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, was the cause of his persecution. How does this historical truth continue to be a challenging and transformative aspect of the Christian faith in the face of various cultural and religious perspectives? How can believers navigate conversations around this fundamental claim?

3. Paul connects the hope in the resurrection to the Old Testament promises, emphasizing its fulfillment in Jesus, the Messiah. How can a deeper understanding of the Old Testament contribute to a richer appreciation of the gospel message, and how can believers convey this connection to others in a compelling way?

Transcript:

 So, this is pretty straightforward what is happening. Paul is continuing to make his case before the authorities. I didn't want to Comment too much on chapter 25 because it would have been kind of the same thing that you know Paul is being faithful to witness the gospel. That's an important thing What I wanted to draw out here by going through verse 11 of chapter 26 Is what does Paul say the issue is notice in verses 6 through 8?

And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise God made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope, I am accused by the Juzo king. Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?  What Paul is saying is that hey, they're upset with me right now.

They're upset that I'm proclaiming this resurrection from the dead That is the message that I am proclaiming. That's the story about Jesus and I think it is important that we understand this.  Paul was not persecuted, the disciples were not martyred for walking around and saying that Jesus said love one another. That was the summary of the law, right?

Love God, love neighbor. That wasn't why they were being persecuted. They were persecuted for saying that a dead man had risen from the dead and he is now seated at the right hand of the Father, reigning as king overall, right? That, that was the message that got Paul persecuted. It isn't that he's telling people to, to behave differently.

The message that is, that is getting him in trouble is the resurrection from the dead and the truth that it was Jesus who did that. And so, Paul is appealing to them, saying, Hey, we have hoped for this. We believe that this was the message from God in the Old Testament that someday. This hope, this promise of resurrection would come to fruition.

And here we have it in the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ, our Lord. That was the message that was getting Paul persecuted. And you know, the same thing is going to get people persecuted today. If we went with a passive religion, and all that we did was tell people to love one another and be nice to one another, persecution isn't going to come.

But saying that Jesus is Lord, that our hope, only hope. Is his death resurrection and ascension?  Our only hope for eternal life is that that is what gets us persecuted  That belief in that truth claim of who Jesus is that he is the messiah and you'll notice as we've been going Through the book of acts that is what the apostles are proclaiming.

That is the message Now, of course, we are to love one another of course, Jesus taught to love god and love neighbor, of course  Jesus Taught that we were to uphold many things of the law that he came to fulfill it so that we would That we would have hope and all these kind of things,  but the message of the gospel Is that Christ died to suffer the wrath of God for our sin  and that he is resurrected and ascended.

That is the message that we cling to tightly. That is the message caused persecution for Paul and has caused persecution throughout the ages. And so may we be like Paul. May we hold fast to the message of the gospel. And of course, like I said, we still proclaim the beauty of God's law and how that lifts up our lives and how it helps society.

Of course, we do.  But anyone can say that and not get persecuted.  Where the persecution comes is saying that salvation is in no one else. That Jesus rose from the dead. So, may we hold strongly to that message. That we might proclaim it and people will hear. And believe.