Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul continued to answer for himself before Felix the governor by saying, “herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Who ought to have been here before you, and object, if they had ought against me. Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, ...”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul told Felix, “touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day”, where we read:
Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them,
Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
The verse begins, “Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, ...” Luke began with the words, “except it be for this one voice” which means “either or rather about, concerning and on account that because of this single tone and sound of uttered words”, “that I cried” or “that I, Paul, vociferated and shouted aloud” “standing among them” which means “in the presence of his Jewish accusers who were part of the Sanhedrin” the following. Luke shared how “Paul” told “Felix” the only reason he was accused was because he shouted the following while he was with the Sanhedrin.
The verse continues, “... Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.” Luke added the words, “touching the resurrection of the dead” which means “because, since and on account of the raising and rising up from the lifeless, inanimate and without breath” “I am called in question” or “I, Paul, exist as put asunder, picked out, selected and chosen” “by you this day” which means “under you, Felix, this particular time or sunrise to sunset”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “Felix” it was because of him believing in the “resurrection of the dead” that he was brought before him that “day”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” the apostle understood the reason for him being brought before “Felix”. He believed in the “resurrection of the dead”, and Jesus was the only One who is able to provide it. The Pharisees, Sadducees and the Scribes made up the members of the “Sanhedrin”. The Pharisees believed in a “resurrection of the dead”. The Sadducees, however, did not. When “Paul” told the Sanhedrin he was a Pharisee, the group became divided and a riot ensued. “Paul” noted this as his reason for being before “Felix”. God's desire is to have an eternal loving relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they submit to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. “Paul” employed his belief the “resurrection of the dead” to defend himself, but he would later share how that “resurrection” is available through a relationship with Jesus. Those who are wise will carefully study “Paul's” words and surrender to Jesus who promises to grant eternal life to all who believe and trust in Him.
Next time Luke shares, “when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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