And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:
“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.
10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
“Hope is a dangerous thing,” says Red to Andy in the movie Shawshank Redemption. Andy has just said, “You’ve gotta have hope!” But Red has been in prison far too long. And his hopes have been crushed – or rather he’s never allowed himself to hope in his hopeless situation. That certainly is one way to handle difficult and seemingly hopeless situations.
Paul urges a different approach. He claims his ultimate hope in God. This will be fulfilled in the resurrection. This will be fulfilled when his faith in Jesus is vindicated. This will be fulfilled in the new heavens and the new earth about which the Apostle Peter writes, “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 2:13).
The message of the resurrection is what Paul speaks of throughout his missionary journeys. He makes this point in the face of the Greek vagaries of the immortality of the soul, but without a physical resurrection. Such an idea was foolishness to them – not to mention the idea that a death of a man on a cross total foolishness.
But Jesus’ death makes his resurrection more stunning. And his resurrection makes his death more meaningful. Jesus is vindicated by his resurrection. We are confirmed in our salvation by Jesus’ resurrection. It is secured. The victory has been won. We’re just waiting to get back home to celebrate the victory together.
But wait we must. Not all is well here on this earth. Whether it’s air conditioners having to be replaced, or car trouble in rush hour traffic, illness, financial ruin, or job loss, we are constantly reminded that we live in a broken world. This makes hope all the more precious and important. Hope looks beyond today. It waits for God’s deliverance. It trusts in God’s goodness, promises, and grace. Hope, when properly placed, is a marvelous thing!
David Bahn - Reflections 
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