So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
The most challenging question in the Bible is asked by God speaking to Adam immediately after their disobedience, “Adam, where are you?” The most defiant question is asked by Cain: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The easiest question in the Bible is the question of the angels to the dumbfounded disciples after Jesus’ ascension: “Why do you stand there looking into the sky?” Answer: Because we’ve never seeen anything like this before!” But I think this is Easy Question # 2: “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?”
It is a wonderful question. It has to do with God’s power, God’s grace, and Jesus’ righteousness. Without God’s power – even over death – there would be no hope of a resurrection. Without God’s grace the resurrection would mean little to us. Jesus’ righteousness – full and complete – required that he be raised from the dead.
“God is not a wimp,” said my counselor one time. He was probing deep things in my heart and pushing me to consider what God wanted from me in the face of some very difficult things I had experienced in my life. Indeed he is not. God is able to do whatever is needed in every situation. His arm is not too short. He is all powerful. God can raise the dead.
Jesus’ resurrection avails to our eternal good – starting today. Just the fact that Jesus rose from the dead is a hard reality for the devil and his minions. Those who oppose Jesus will one day bow the knee to Jesus when he returns on the Great Last Day. But this is not God’s desire. He wants all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Jesus resurrection is the first fruits of redemption, life, and hope. By God’s grace, Jesus’ resurrection opens heaven’s gates for all who believe.
Jesus’ resurrection vindicates Jesus. He is shown to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the grave. All the taunts of the demons. All the jeers of the mob at his crucifixion. All the self-righteous dismissals of the religious leaders. All these evaporate on the First Easter.
Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? Because our faith is weak. Because we don’t understand the depth of God’s grace and love. Because we don’t know the power and grace of God.
But we do know this. We do believe – even if our faith his weak. Jesus has been raised from the dead. It may be thought to be incredible. But it’s true. And it is profoundly good news. There’s no question about that.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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