How does Acts 25:19 connect to 1 Corinthians 15:14 about resurrection significance? Setting the Scene in Acts 25:19 • Paul is on trial before Festus. • Jewish leaders press charges, but Festus notes the real dispute: “about a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirms to be alive” (Acts 25:19). • The resurrection is not a side issue; it is the pivot of the entire courtroom drama. Paul’s Core Claim: “Jesus … is alive” • Paul’s defense is historical, not theoretical—he testifies to an objective event. • This claim echoes earlier apostolic preaching (Acts 2:32; 3:15; 13:30–31). • By declaring Jesus alive, Paul confronts every listener with a decision: accept or reject the risen Lord. Linking to 1 Corinthians 15:14: Why Resurrection Matters • “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14). • Paul’s courtroom assertion (Acts 25:19) embodies the very truth he explains to the Corinthians: everything stands or falls with the resurrection. • Without an empty tomb, – The gospel collapses. – Faith is futile. – Sin remains unforgiven (1 Corinthians 15:17). – Hope is quenched (1 Corinthians 15:19). Resurrection as the Heartbeat of Paul’s Gospel • Justification: “He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25). • New life: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). • Present power: The risen Christ empowers believers (Ephesians 1:19–20). • Future assurance: Because He lives, we will live also (John 14:19). Additional Scriptural Threads • Acts 17:31—Resurrection guarantees coming judgment. • John 11:25–26—Jesus proclaims Himself “the resurrection and the life.” • Philippians 3:10—Knowing Christ involves “the power of His resurrection.” Practical Takeaways for Today • Confidence in Scripture’s reliability strengthens faith; the same apostle who faced Roman scrutiny wrote 1 Corinthians. • Gospel proclamation must center on the risen Christ, just as Paul did before Festus. • Personal assurance flows from a living Savior—prayer, worship, and daily obedience hinge on His present reality. |
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