Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?”

There are some very courageous people in life who have maintained hope in the most challenging circumstances. I think of a young woman named Hannah, and her family, who have wrestled with the effects of childhood brain cancer for many years. The continued hope that was and is shown is an inspiration to me every day. Each of us has an opportunity to build up the hope that others have in this life, or to tear it down. Without hope the true meaning in life starts to slip away. A loss of hope is a sad thing.

Paul, as he starts his defense, relates that he once was one of the strictest followers of the Jewish laws and rules that there was. He did all the things he was told to do. He excelled in the art of being a Pharisee. He persecuted the early church, throwing many in jail. And after all of this, my guess is that his hope was not strong. He had a misplaced hope in the traditions and rules of religion. Because of this, he was not able to see clearly the truth Jesus presented.

Then Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, blinded by a bright light … and everything changed.

Everything changed because Paul realized that Jesus was the Messiah that the Jews have been waiting for. And he clearly saw his sin in not caring about people as much as his beliefs or religion. God is a relational God. He loves us and his ways will always result in good things in the end.

What Paul presents here to King Agrippa is the first part of a life (his) lived to gain the approval of men, all the while sacrificing hope in life. A life lived for himself. And now, in the second part of his life, the Jews are angry at him for living, in essence, a selfless life.

So, he asks a question: Why should we think it incredible that God raises the dead? There are dreams, hopes, and people we trust in that have died. Do I believe that God can raise the dead? That he can take those parts of my heart that are dying, cut off from life, and revive them?

I love this passage in ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬-‭8‬: “Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.”

What dry bones in my life will I allow the Lord of Heaven and Earth to raise to life? Will I keep hope when all hope seems gone, that my God can do the seemingly impossible? That he can regenerate life, raise up the dead?

Lord, you are the source of hope that is founded on the truth. When I hope in you, all my hope in this life is full of joy. Thank you for giving me hope in some tough spots. Give hope to my friends here today. Whatever challenge they may be facing … the God of Hope is on their side!