“I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Acts 24:15

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A more literal rendering would be, “Having a hope toward God which they themselves also embrace: a resurrection of dead shall be, both just and unjust” (CG).

Paul, speaking to Felix, had noted in the previous verse that he worships the God of the fathers, believing all things written in the Law and the Prophets. Now, in order to explain that further, he says, “Having a hope toward God.”

This confirms his stand on the authority of Scripture. The belief was that their Scriptures were from God through His chosen prophets and holy men. As this is so, then what the Scriptures said, when believed, demonstrated a hope toward God concerning what Scripture proclaims.

The connection is that if the God of Scripture is who Paul serves, then his hope must be in that God. This hope is the same one that his accusers accepted in part or in whole. Other than the Sadducees, this hope was one “which they themselves also embrace.”

The word here rendered as embrace is prosdechomai. It is translated by some as allow or await. It can also have the meaning of looking for. Thus, it is a hope that is anticipated, even eagerly. Thus, because this is a future hope that is eagerly anticipated, the word embrace suits the meaning well. And what is being embraced is the thought that “a resurrection of dead shall be.”

The word translated as “dead” is not in all manuscripts. In those manuscripts where it is used, there is no article before dead. Because of this, the words seem vague, but Paul is making a distinction between physically dead and living people. Not all dead are, however, dead in the spiritual sense of the word.

This is probably why Paul states the word without the article. The resurrection is a hope that permeates Scripture. From the implicit words of Eve when she named Cain, to the hopes of Job, and to the explicit promises to Isaiah and Daniel of the Old Testament (e.g. Job 19:23-27, Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2).

It is also something that was known to the common people of Israel at that time (John 11:24). However, Felix may or may not have been aware of this. Therefore, Paul gives him an explanation of what his faith consists of. Comprised within that faith is not just that the just shall be raised. Instead, he next says, “both just and unjust.”

This is an all-encompassing explanation of a resurrection of physically dead people. No article was necessary because the words are qualified now by “just and unjust.” This thought from Paul must be taken as a point of evangelism for Felix and a continued defense for himself.

If he were to believe in such a resurrection and there was a distinction between the just and the unjust, then it implies that he must surely be living according to the law that told of the coming resurrection. Only a fool who believed in such a resurrection would willfully be disobedient to the God who promised a different end based on one’s standing before Him.

Life application: The physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central point of theology found in Scripture. His physical body died. It went into the grave. And that same body rose to life again.

This was not a rapture (an exchange of one state for another), a spiritual resurrection, or any other such event. It was also not simply a reward for right living. Instead, it was a necessary outcome for having lived in sinless perfection. Man dies because of sin. He is condemned the moment he comes into existence (see Psalm 51:5 and John 3:18) because he inherits Adam’s sin (Romans 5:12).

The Lord God united with human flesh in the womb of Mary. This is the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Because He did not have a human father to transmit sin to Him, He was conceived in sinless perfection. He was born in that state, and He never sinned in that state. In His death, He could then atone for the sins of the people of the world. The physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the proof of this.

To deny the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus is to deny what God in Christ has done. As this is a part of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4), no person who denies the resurrection of Jesus Christ can be saved. It is that simple, and it is that profound. Be sure to tell those who believe someone can be saved in any other way that they are espousing heresy. There is one path to restoration with God and one alone.

To God be the glory for what He has done in and through Christ Jesus!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the sinless perfection of Christ Jesus our Lord. All glory and honor belong to You for what You have done. May we boldly proclaim the truth that He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Only through Jesus can man be restored to You. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.