Not Surprising

Acts 26:8 KJV

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

While his primary audience was Agrippa, who was an expert in the customs of the Jews, I am told that the subject of this verse, "you", is a plural number and indicates he addresses this question to the whole audience.

The Jewish Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection of the dead. Neither did the Romans. But, given:

• The doctrinal teachings of the Jews
• Their history and
• The evidences of the veracity of the God they belonged to

it should not be surprising that such a God could raise the dead and that He would raise Jesus Christ, who is His only begotten Son.

Paul's main argument is from his own testimony. Paul had been, if I may put it this way, an unwilling convert to the faith. He had been employed to persecute and exterminate those believers in Christ's resurrection. Until that it. the resurrected Christ had himself appeared to him. He could no longer argue or disbelieve. His only recourse, having met the resurrected Saviour, was to surrender to his will.

Paul had no expectation that everyone would have to see the Saviour personally to believe and to surrender. His very next move in this text was to turn the conversation from himself to his hearers and urge them to become Christians as he had.

That God is, is no great controversy.

We all know it to be so even if some deny it.

That God can raise the dead is not in any way surprising.

His power is unlimited.

That God has made himself known to men who have been converted by that contact is historically evident

That God would save any who would call upon Him is a biblical promise

The only thing left is to get that message to everyone possible.