Paul the poisoner has been heard by one Roman judge after another, working his way up to the “Supreme Judge” of them all, politically speaking! (Rome’s one man “Supreme Court!”)
Yes, we believe Paul will eventually face the Emperor Nero himself! (If our timeline on the Apostle’s life is correct, anyway.)
And in each judicial case (at least where Paul’s dialog is shared with us) he preaches the Resurrection of Jesus!
Even before Agrippa!
Luke has Paul asking the King … “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” Acts 26:8
Wow!
It’s not enough to just believe that Jesus died. Died vicariously (for you and me) in fact.
Or that he was buried, even in a wealthy man’s tomb.
To these great fundamental Facts must be added … belief that Jesus was raised from the dead!
Do I have proof, Scriptural proof?
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and SHALT BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9
Little wonder that the preaching throughout the whole Book of Acts centered on just that … the crucified Jesus is alive!
Here’s an excerpt from that great Pentecostal Sermon Peter preached the day those 3,000 souls were saved … “Jesus (Whom) ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: WHOM GOD HATH RAISED UP, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:24, quoting Psalm 16.
This too … the first Gospel ever written (chronologically speaking) ends with the no-longer-dead, glorified Jesus being … “Received up into heaven, and sitting on the right hand of God.” Mark 16:19, Jesus alive (resurrected) eternally!
Even in John’s Revelation, the New Testament’s final Book, Jesus is still the Resurrected Lord!
Revelation 1:18 … “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen.”
Again one chapter later, “These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive,” Jesus indeed!
Enjoy some time today with the living Jesus!
Wow, this is exciting, still quoting Jesus … “Because I live, ye shall live also.” John 14:19
Amen!
Do you know (personally) this living Jesus?
Better yet, is He living in you right now, this very second?
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Doctrinally, Paul even when this far, emphasizing the necessity of Jesus’ being alive this very second. “If Christ be not raised, our faith is vain; and we are yet in our sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:17
Wow!
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