In his defense before Governor Felix in Caesarea, the apostle Paul said something very enlightening and revealing. This is what he said: “But this I confess to you, that according to the way which they (the Jewish high priest and elders) call heresy, so I worship the God of my fathers, BELIEVING ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW AND IN THE PROPHETS” (See Acts 24:14).
Note well what Paul has just plainly declared. In modern language Paul had said: “I believe the entirety of the Old Testament,” or “I believe the Hebrew scriptures from beginning to end.”
Had the high priest produced a scroll of the prophet Daniel and read these words from that scroll, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt,” and then asked Paul, “Do you believe that?” Paul would have answered, “Every single word!” (See Daniel 12:2). Had the priest pressed him, asking, “Do you mean you think we children of God sleep in the dust of the earth awaiting a resurrection to be granted everlasting life at that moment?” Paul would have said, “That is what I believe and preach wherever I go.”
Had the priest then produced a scroll of the Psalms and read these words to Paul, “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish,” and asked Paul, “Do you believe those words, also.” Paul would have said, “Most certainly.” Had the priest pressed him and asked, “Do you mean you believe one’s ability to think and form thoughts ceases when he dies?” Paul would have said, “That is exactly what happens and what I believe.” (See Psalm 146:3-4).
Had the priest then produced a scroll of the Old Testament book Ecclesiastes, and read these words, “For the living know that they shall die, BUT THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANYTHING,” and then asked Paul, “You agree that the dead know nothing, are truly dead and await a resurrection to life???” Paul would have said, “You got it!” (See Ecclesiastes 9:5)
Had the high priest thought, I will try one more text, and then produced a scroll of Genesis and read how God told Adam and Eve, “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” and asked Paul, “Is this your teaching, too?” Paul would have said, “It most certainly is.” (See Genesis 3:19).
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley