Acts 26:8

KJV

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

KJV (with Strong's)

Why {G5101} should it be thought a thing {G2919} incredible {G571} with {G3844} you {G5213}, that {G1487} God {G2316} should raise {G1453} the dead {G3498}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Why do you people consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

Berean Standard Bible

Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

American Standard Version

Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Acts 26:8, Paul, defending himself before King Agrippa II and Governor Festus, poses a profound rhetorical question that challenges the skepticism of his audience regarding the resurrection of the dead. This verse encapsulates the core of his gospel message and the power of God, asserting that the divine ability to restore life should not be considered an unbelievable or impossible feat, thereby laying the groundwork for the credibility of Jesus's resurrection and the Christian hope.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 26:8 is embedded within Paul's eloquent defense speech before King Agrippa II, Governor Festus, and other dignitaries in Caesarea. This speech (Acts 26:1-23) is the culmination of a series of trials and hearings Paul endured after his arrest in Jerusalem. Preceding this verse, Paul recounts his zealous persecution of Christians and his dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus, where he encountered the risen Christ ([Acts 26:9-18](/acts/26-9-18 "Acts 26:9-18 - Paul's Conversion and Commission")). His defense is not merely legal but also evangelistic, aiming to persuade his high-ranking audience of the truth of the gospel, which hinges on the resurrection. The immediate verses set the stage for Paul's explanation of his hope in the resurrection, a hope shared by many Jews yet rejected by others, particularly the Sadducees.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul's trial takes place in Caesarea, a Roman administrative center, before Roman officials and a Jewish king. King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice were members of the Herodian dynasty, deeply familiar with Jewish customs and beliefs, including the various sects within Judaism. The concept of resurrection was a major point of theological contention among Jews; the Pharisees believed in a future resurrection of the dead, while the Sadducees denied it, based on their interpretation of the Torah ([Matthew 22:23](/matthew/22-23 "Matthew 22:23 - The Sadducees' Question About the Resurrection")). Paul, a former Pharisee, now proclaims the resurrection of Jesus as a historical event, which directly challenged the Sadducean view and was a stumbling block for many, including the Roman authorities who viewed it as a strange, unintelligible doctrine. The cultural backdrop is one where divine intervention and miracles were acknowledged by some, but a bodily resurrection from the dead was often met with incredulity, especially when presented as a historical fact.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Acts and Paul's theology. Firstly, it underscores the **centrality of the resurrection** to the Christian message. For Paul, the resurrection of Jesus is not a peripheral doctrine but the foundational truth that validates his apostleship and the gospel itself ([1 Corinthians 15:14](/1_corinthians/15-14 "1 Corinthians 15:14 - The Futility of Faith Without Resurrection")). Secondly, it highlights **God's omnipotence and sovereignty over life and death**. Paul's rhetorical question implicitly asserts that nothing is impossible for God, especially raising the dead, which resonates with other biblical affirmations of God's limitless power ([Luke 1:37](/luke/1-37 "Luke 1:37 - Nothing is Impossible with God")). Thirdly, it embodies Paul's **bold evangelistic challenge to skepticism and unbelief**, directly confronting the human tendency to limit God's capabilities based on natural experience. Finally, the verse points to the **hope offered by Christianity**, which is deeply rooted in the promise of resurrection, both for Christ and for believers, offering victory over death and a future eternal life.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **incredible (Greek, _ápistos'_):** This word (G571) literally means "unbelievable," "untrustworthy," or "without Christian faith." Paul's use of this term challenges his audience's intellectual and spiritual disposition. He is not merely asking if they find it hard to believe, but if they deem it utterly impossible or unworthy of belief, suggesting a fundamental lack of faith in God's power or a closed-mindedness to divine intervention. It highlights the clash between human reason limited by natural experience and divine power that transcends it.
* **raise (Greek, _egeírō'_):** This verb (G1453) signifies "to waken," "rouse," "lift up," or "cause to stand up." It is used extensively in the New Testament for physical resurrection from death. Paul employs it to emphasize the active, powerful intervention of God in bringing life back to the dead. The choice of this verb underscores the dynamic and supernatural act of resurrection, not a mere resuscitation but a transformative act of divine power.
* **dead (Greek, _nekrós'_):** This term (G3498) refers to a corpse or someone who is literally or figuratively dead. In this context, it unequivocally refers to those who have physically died. By juxtaposing "God" with "the dead," Paul highlights the absolute contrast between the source of life and the state of lifelessness, making the act of resurrection a profound demonstration of God's unique power and authority over all creation, including death itself.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you":** Paul opens with a powerful rhetorical question, directly addressing his audience. The phrase "a thing incredible" (Greek: _ti ápiston krínetai par' humin_) implies something deemed unbelievable or impossible by them. He challenges their very judgment and worldview, implying that their incredulity is unwarranted given the nature of God. This sets up the premise that their skepticism is a flaw in their reasoning, not in the truth of the resurrection.
* **"that God should raise the dead?":** This clause presents the core proposition that Paul asserts should not be considered incredible. The agent is "God," emphasizing divine omnipotence. The action is "raise," signifying a supernatural act of bringing life back to "the dead." This is the central miracle of the Christian faith, and Paul argues that if one truly believes in God's power, then the resurrection, whether of Jesus or of all believers, should be within the realm of the possible and expected.

#### Literary Devices
Acts 26:8 is a masterclass in rhetorical strategy, primarily employing a **Rhetorical Question**. Paul's question, "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?", is not posed to elicit information but to make a forceful assertion and to challenge the presuppositions of his listeners. It functions as a powerful **Argument from Divine Power**, implicitly stating that if God is truly God, then raising the dead should be considered entirely within His capabilities. The verse also contains elements of **Apostrophe**, as Paul directly addresses his audience ("with you"), drawing them into the argument and forcing them to confront their own incredulity. This direct address creates a sense of personal challenge, making the theological point highly impactful.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 26:8 serves as a pivotal theological statement, asserting God's absolute sovereignty over life and death. It positions the resurrection not as a mere historical event, but as a demonstration of divine omnipotence that should logically follow from a belief in God's nature. Paul's challenge to the "incredible" underscores that human limitations and rationalism should not dictate the boundaries of God's power. The resurrection, therefore, becomes the ultimate proof of God's ability to overcome all obstacles, including the final enemy, death, and forms the bedrock of Christian hope and the validation of Christ's messianic claims.

* [Romans 4:17](/romans/4-17 "Romans 4:17 - God Who Gives Life to the Dead")
* [John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")
* [1 Corinthians 15:12-19](/1_corinthians/15-12-19 "1 Corinthians 15:12-19 - The Importance of the Resurrection")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Paul's rhetorical question in Acts 26:8 remains profoundly relevant for believers today, challenging us to examine the limits we place on God's power. In a world increasingly shaped by scientific rationalism, it is easy to dismiss the miraculous or to relegate God's activity to the purely natural realm. This verse calls us to reaffirm our faith in a God who transcends human understanding and natural laws, a God for whom nothing is impossible. It reminds us that the resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical fact, but the living foundation of our hope for eternal life, the ultimate victory over sin and death, and the assurance that God can bring life and redemption even from the most seemingly hopeless situations in our own lives. It encourages us to cultivate a worldview that embraces divine omnipotence and to trust in God's ability to do the "incredible" in our personal circumstances and in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "incredible" things about God's power or promises do I struggle to believe in my own life?**
* **How does my understanding of God's omnipotence impact my prayers and expectations for His intervention?**
* **In what ways does the resurrection of Jesus challenge my own rationalistic or skeptical tendencies?**
* **How can I better live out the hope of the resurrection in my daily life, especially when facing death, loss, or seemingly insurmountable challenges?**

### FAQ

**Why was the resurrection considered "incredible" by Paul's audience?**

Answer: For many in Paul's audience, particularly the Roman officials and some Jewish groups like the Sadducees, the idea of a bodily resurrection from the dead was indeed "incredible" or unbelievable. For Romans, it might have seemed a bizarre and irrational concept, as their philosophical traditions often emphasized the immortality of the soul but not the reanimation of the body. For the Sadducees, their interpretation of the Torah led them to reject the concept of a future resurrection, unlike the Pharisees who affirmed it. Thus, Paul's claim that God had raised Jesus from the dead, and that there would be a general resurrection of the dead, challenged deeply ingrained philosophical, religious, and scientific assumptions of his time. He was confronting a worldview that limited God's power to what was naturally observable or logically comprehensible to them.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 26:8 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Paul's rhetorical question about God's ability to raise the dead is answered definitively in the person of Jesus, who was indeed raised from the grave by the power of God ([Romans 8:11](/romans/8-11 "Romans 8:11 - The Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus")). Jesus's resurrection is not merely an example of God raising the dead; it is the "firstfruits" of all who will be raised ([1 Corinthians 15:20](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ, the Firstfruits")). His victory over death demonstrates God's supreme power and validates all of Jesus's claims, confirming His identity as the Son of God and the promised Messiah ([Romans 1:4](/romans/1-4 "Romans 1:4 - Declared Son of God by Resurrection")). Therefore, when Paul asks "Why should it be thought a thing incredible... that God should raise the dead?", he is implicitly pointing to the historical reality of Christ's resurrection as the irrefutable evidence that God has indeed exercised this very power, offering hope and new life to all who believe in Him ([John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 15:12

¶ Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

1 Corinthians 15:20

¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Acts 4:2

Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Acts 17:31

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Acts 17:32

¶ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this [matter].

Philippians 3:21

Who 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.

Acts 10:40

Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;