Acts 26:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Then there is another proof: "What? Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?" If the Jews had no such opinion, and had not been brought up in these teachings, but they were only now being introduced, then one might refuse this doctrine. He offers two proofs of the resurrection. One is from the prophets, although he does not cite the prophecy, but rather the Jews' own view about it. The other, and stronger, is from deeds. What is this proof? It is that Christ, risen from the dead, spoke with him. He confirms the latter proof by recounting in detail his former error. Concerning the Jews, however, he speaks with praise: they earnestly serve God day and night. Therefore, even if I had lived a life not beyond reproach, King Agrippa, I still ought not to be judged for this. Then there is another proof: what? Do you truly consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

The speech of the Apostle Paul at this trial, in the presence of King Agrippa, is likewise a defense, just as his speech before the Jews on the steps of the Jerusalem fortress was. But now the Apostle spoke with greater freedom than he had then, before a crowd of fanatics. Since he was not interrupted and could speak fully, he defended himself in such a way that he also bore solemn witness to Christ. He testified that Christ had died and risen, according to the prophecy of Moses and the other ancient prophets. He also called his hearers to repentance and conversion to God.

Therefore he asked them to hear him patiently, and once more recounted the well-known story of his conversion. He had turned from being a strict and fanatical Pharisee to faith. He declared that his people's messianic hope had already truly been fulfilled in Jesus the Nazarene. At first he had fiercely persecuted His followers. But Christ personally revealed His glory to him and brought him to know that He had risen from the dead. Why might this faith have seemed implausible even to his hearers? At first it had seemed so to him as well. Yet how could he withstand the personal testimony of Christ Himself? How could he disobey the heavenly voice? That voice sent him to open the eyes of both Jews and Gentiles, so that they might turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Thus, through faith in Jesus, they might receive forgiveness of sins and a portion among the saints. He was not disobedient to this command; for detailed interpretation, see Acts 22:3-21.

The Jews were especially angered because the Apostle placed the teaching about the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth at the foundation of his preaching about the Messiah's Kingdom. They in no way wished to acknowledge this resurrection. Therefore, in the heightened movement of his speech, the Apostle turns through King Agrippa as if to all Jews. Through Festus and the other Gentiles, he turns as if to all Gentiles. He asks them directly whether they truly consider it incredible that God raises the dead. The Apostle has in view specifically the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Whom God raised; see the note on Acts 2:24 and parallels. This is clear from the following verse, verse 9. Yet he makes the concept of resurrection general.

Hope in the Messiah and Savior is the Apostle's chief teaching. In this hope the faith of the forefathers of the Jewish people was centered. In it the Jews of his own day hoped. For it Paul suffered and was judged, proclaiming that the expected Messiah had appeared in Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified, died, and rose by the power of the Godhead. Probably, when resurrection was mentioned, some of the hearers showed their unbelief. The members of the Athenian Areopagus expressed this more decisively; see Acts 17:32. Therefore it is understandable that the Apostle interrupted the natural course of his speech and asked what was incredible in the almighty God raising the dead.