This One Thing (Acts 24:20-21)

 

Wednesday, 3 September, 2025

Psalm 9

1 Kings 3:16-28

Acts 24:10-27

Observances: Gregory of Rome, bishop and teacher (d. 604); Eliza Darling, pioneer social reformer in NSW (d. 1868)

This One Thing (Acts 24:20-21)

 [St Paul said] “Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

This whole resurrection thing seems to be an obsession of St Paul’s. It’s the reason he got in trouble in the first place (and this isn’t the first time it’s gotten him into trouble); he is able to get along just fine with Felix and Drusilla until he brings it up; and he even talks about how, in one of his letters, that if there is no resurrection of the dead then we of all people are to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).

It seems like there is nothing new under the sun. Even today we hear scorn whenever we try and talk about the “sweet by-and-by”, when every tear will be wiped away, and we will be raised to everlasting life in glorified bodies. Why not worry about now? What about all the problems of the world on our screens?

St Paul was perfectly fine, even as a Jesus-worshipping Jew, following all the old rules, going to the Temple, and behaving himself according to the Law. But if not for this one thing – the resurrection of the dead – he would have been safe and sound and home in bed.

Why does the resurrection of the dead get people so worked up? Why do you think the Apostle kept going on about it so much?

God of the living, who raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and has promised the same to all who love and serve him: grant us the courage of our convictions that as we too believe and confess in the resurrection of the body, we may be raised to eternal life in Christ.