Ep 452 – Acts 26:2-18

The resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Paul, this was not a topic that came up one time a year, at Easter. It was the heart and soul of his entire ministry. Without the resurrection, he had no ministry. There was no good news. His whole salvation story was based upon his own personal encounter with the resurrected Jesus. So, when he shared the good news regarding Jesus, it included news of Jesus' death and resurrection. As far as Paul saw it, one meant nothing without the other. If Jesus had died, but had not been raised back to life, He was nothing more than a martyr, not a Messiah. He was a rabbi who taught some powerful moral lessons and lived an exemplary life, but nothing more. And yet, Paul was convinced that Jesus was alive because he had met Him on the road to Damascus. He had spoken with Jesus. And he had received his commission from the lips of Jesus. So, when Paul got the opportunity to speak before Festus and Agrippa, guess what he talked about? That's right, the resurrection. In Acts 26:2-18, Luke records the testimony Paul shared with these two powerful men. He told his conversion story and how he had met the resurrected Jesus. And he let them know that God had raised Jesus back to life in order that men might turn from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. Jesus died so that men might live. Jesus lived so that men might never die. And Paul wanted Festus and Agrippa to believe so that they might be saved.