1. How did the resurrection become an issue before the Sanhedrin?

AT THE end of his third missionary tour in 56 C.E., the apostle Paul was in Jerusalem. After being arrested by the Romans, he was permitted to appear before the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin. (Acts 22:29, 30) As Paul observed the members of that court, he noted that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees. These two groups differed in one outstanding way. The Sadducees denied the resurrection; the Pharisees accepted it. To show where he stood on that issue, Paul declared: “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Over the hope of resurrection of the dead I am being judged.” In so doing, he threw the assembly into confusion!​—Acts 23:6-9.

2. Why was Paul prepared to make a defense of his belief in the resurrection?

² Years earlier, when he was on the road to Damascus, Paul saw a vision in which he heard Jesus’ voice. Paul even asked Jesus: “What shall I do, Lord?” Jesus answered: “Rise, go your way into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything it is appointed for you to do.” On arrival in Damascus, Paul was found by a helpful Christian disciple, Ananias, who explained: “The God of our forefathers has chosen you to come to know his will and to see the righteous One [the resurrected Jesus] and to hear the voice of his mouth.” (Acts 22:6-16) Little wonder, then, that Paul was prepared to make a defense of his belief in the resurrection.​—1 Peter 3:15.

Publicly Declaring the Resurrection Hope

3, 4. How did Paul prove to be a staunch advocate of the resurrection, and what can we learn from his example?

³ Paul later appeared before Governor Felix. On that occasion, Tertullus, “a public speaker” who presented the Jews’ case against Paul, accused him of being the leader of a sect and guilty of sedition. In answer Paul forthrightly declared: “I do admit this to you, that, according to the way that they call a ‘sect,’ in this manner I am rendering sacred service to the God of my forefathers.” Then, coming to the main issue, he continued: “I have hope toward God, which hope these men themselves also entertain, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.”​—Acts 23:23, 24; 24:1-8, 14, 15.

⁴ About two years later, Felix’ successor, Porcius Festus, invited King Herod Agrippa to join him in examining the prisoner Paul. Festus explained that the accusers disputed Paul’s assertion that “a certain Jesus who was dead . . . was alive.” In his defense Paul asked: “Why is it judged unbelievable among you men that God raises up the dead?” Then he declared: “Because I have obtained the help that is from God I continue to this day bearing witness to both small and great, but saying nothing except things the Prophets as well as Moses stated were going to take place, that the Christ was to suffer and, as the first to be resurrected from the dead, he was going to publish light both to this people and to the nations.” (Acts 24:27; 25:13-22; 26:8, 22, 23) What a staunch advocate of the resurrection Paul was! Like Paul, we too can proclaim with conviction that there will be a resurrection. But what reaction can we expect? Likely the same as Paul received.

5, 6. (a) The apostles’ advocating the resurrection prompted what reaction? (b) As we express our hope in the resurrection, what is vital?

⁵ Consider what occurred earlier during Paul’s second missionary tour (about 49-52 C.E.) when he visited Athens. He reasoned with people who believed in many deities, and he urged them to note God’s purpose to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom He had appointed. This was none other than Jesus. Paul explained that God had furnished a guarantee of this by resurrecting Jesus. What was the reaction? We read: “Well, when they heard of a resurrection of the dead, some began to mock, while others said: ‘We will hear you about this even another time.’”​—Acts 17:29-32.

Faith and the Resurrection

7, 8. (a) As shown in a letter to the first-century Corinthian congregation, how can faith be in vain? (b) How does a correct understanding of the resurrection hope set true Christians apart?

⁷ Not all who became Christians in the first century C.E. found it easy to accept the resurrection hope. Some who found it difficult were associated with the congregation in Corinth. To them Paul wrote: “I handed on to you, among the first things, that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, yes, that he has been raised up the third day according to the Scriptures.” Paul then attested to this truth by stating that the resurrected Christ had “appeared to upward of five hundred brothers,” most of whom, added Paul, were still alive. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) He further reasoned: “If Christ is being preached that he has been raised up from the dead, how is it some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If, indeed, there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised up. But if Christ has not been raised up, our preaching is certainly in vain, and our faith is in vain.”​—1 Corinthians 15:12-14.

⁸ Yes, so fundamental is the teaching of the resurrection that the Christian faith is in vain if the resurrection is not accepted as a reality. Indeed, the correct understanding of the resurrection sets true Christians apart from the false. (Genesis 3:4; Ezekiel 18:4) Thus, Paul includes the teaching of the resurrection in “the primary doctrine” of Christianity. May our determination be to “press on to maturity.” “And this we will do,” exhorts Paul, “if God indeed permits.”​—Hebrews 6:1-3.