Acts 24:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Except 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul concedes the only thing anyone witnessed: his cry before the council that he was on trial for the resurrection of the dead.
What Does Acts 24:21 Mean?
Paul recalls the single sentence the council actually heard from him: 'Of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question' (Acts 23:6). That one cry had split his judges, for some affirmed the resurrection and some denied it (Acts 23:7-8). If anything on the record looks like an offense, it is that — and it is no crime.
With this, Paul relocates the entire trial: the real issue is not sedition but resurrection — not what Paul has done, but what God has done in raising Jesus. The apostles were forever in trouble for this one thing (Acts 4:2; 17:32). It remains the hinge of the faith: 'if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain' (1 Corinthians 15:17) — and because He is risen, no earthly court has the last word.
Acts 24:21 in the Original Language
anastasis (ἀνάστασις), 'resurrection' -- literally a standing up again, the dead rising to their feet alive.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 24:21
What does Acts 24:21 mean?
Paul concedes the only thing anyone witnessed: his cry before the council that he was on trial for the resurrection of the dead.