Resurrection

Paul uses an appeal to the belief in the resurrection to create a diversion and division between the 2 main groups before whom he was defending his new belief and ministry.  It took the focus off him and put it on the issue that vindicates the One he now proclaims.

Acts 23:6-9:    “6  But when Paul perceived that one part were  Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men [and] brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"  7  And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the  Sadducees ; and the assembly was divided.  8  For  Sadducees  say that there is no resurrection--and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.    9  Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees' party arose and protested, saying, "We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”

The Pharisees were of a group of scribes, teachers and judges of the Law, while the Sadducees  were of the priests.  These groups probably developed during the time after the Babylonian Captivity and were the membership of the Sanhedrin.

We see the belief in the resurrection was a divisive issue between these 2 groups.  But they must have generally tolerated one another.

The Sadducees not only denied the resurrection but any non-corporeal being.

Paul’s appeal to the resurrection was an appeal to what the Pharisees believed in.  It was the resurrection of Jesus on which his new belief and ministry was founded. 

Though this didn’t come up…if they believe in the resurrection, and Jesus rose from the dead, then He must have been who he claimed to be.  

Maybe he wanted this to be considered, at least by the Pharisees.   It may have been one more opportunity to appeal to that truth which may challenge about who Jesus was.

The Pharisees were more liked by the people.  Their belief in the resurrection was the belief of the nation.

Paul in his defense before King Herod again appeals to the resurrection, and this time as the hope of the 12 tribes of Israel:

Acts 26:  “5  "They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.  6  " And  now I stand  and  am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.  7  "To this [promise] our twelve tribes, earnestly serving [God]  night   and   day , hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.  8  "Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” 

Again, this appeal to the resurrection was because it was the belief of Israel, and should be of the King, whose family (Herod’s)  participated in the Jewish religion,  and  if there is a resurrection, then the resurrection of Jesus is not incredible, and it is the reason for Paul’s new belief and ministry.  The resurrection of Jesus is proof of who he was and what he did.

If one believes God created life, then his ability to raise the dead to life should not be incredible.   It’s really the same thing, though resurrection is a kind of reincarnation, but it’s the same person and consciousness, but with a new life and kind of body.

Daniel wrote of a future resurrection.

12: “2  And  many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,  Some to everlasting life,  Some to shame [ and ] everlasting contempt.”

The reference to “those who sleep in the dust of the earth” is a reference to physical life, which is of dust and returns to it.

This is a general reference to resurrection, because it speaks of both everlasting life and everlasting contempt. And these are separate events.    “Everlasting Life” is never applied to those who are resurrected for  the Lake of Fire.  Revelation  20:5-6 separates these two by a 1000 years.

Daniel 12:13 speaks of Daniel’s resurrection.

                                                                             

Isaiah spoke of a resurrection.

26:  “19  Your  dead  shall live;  [Together] [with] my  dead  body they shall arise.  Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust;  For your dew [is] [like] the dew of herbs,  And the earth shall cast out the  dead .”

Isaiah, who predates Daniel, speaks of the dead as rising. He uses metaphorical language,  using the idea of waking from sleep, for resurrection.  The dust of the earth signifies the origin and destination of physical life.  At death, one returns to dust, and in resurrection, one awakes, but with a new body.

The earth is said to cast out its dead.  The dead shall live again, but in a bodily sense.

Jesus said concerning Lazarus: 

John 11 “11  These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."  12  Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."  13  However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.  14  Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is  dead .  15  "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."

Comparing this with the previous OT references, we see clearly that “sleep” speaks of death, and “wake” speaks of resurrection.