And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Parallel translations
- WEB having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
- BSB and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
- NKJV I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
- NASB having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
- NLT I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul declares his hope in God for the resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous, a hope his accusers share. He grounds his faith in a doctrine many of them affirm.
Overview
Paul ties his defense to the resurrection, a belief held by the Pharisees among his accusers, showing that he stands within Israel's hope rather than against it. The resurrection of the just and unjust points to final judgment and to the vindication God provides. This hope is secured in Christ, the firstfruits of the resurrection, whose rising guarantees the resurrection to come.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Dan 12:2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
- John 5:28–29Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
- 1 Th 4:14–16For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
- Rev 20:12–13And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
- Job 19:25–26For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
- Rev 20:6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
- Phil 3:21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
- 1 Cor 15:12–27Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
- Matt 22:31–32But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
- Acts 28:20–31For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
- Acts 23:6–8But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
- Acts 26:6–7And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
- Acts 24:21Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 24:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.