Acts 24:21

unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Paul addresses his Jewish accusers and the Roman governor Felix while standing trial in Caesarea. He isolates the single charge for which he is currently being examined.

The words — περὶ (peri) means “concerning” and μιᾶς (mias) means “one,” together specifying that only one issue is under legal review. ἐκέκραξα (ekekraxa) translates literally as “I cried out,” marking his public declaration before the assembled judges.

The thread — This focus on the resurrection of the dead connects to his earlier address in Acts 23:6, the apostles’ preaching in Acts 4:2, and his later defense in Acts 26:6. In each instance, the doctrine of bodily resurrection serves as the central point of contention.

Why it lands — The text states Paul is on trial for exactly one matter: the resurrection of the dead. It requires readers to identify this claim as the sole basis of the legal proceeding rather than the surrounding procedural charges.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἢē[other] than περὶpericoncerning μιᾶςmiasone ταύτηςtautēsthis φωνῆςphōnēsvoice ἧςhēswhich ἐκέκραξαekekraxaI cried out ἐνenamong αὐτοῖςautoisthem ἑστὼςhestōsstanding ὅτιhotithat περὶperiConcerning ἀναστάσεωςanastaseōs[the] resurrection νεκρῶνnekrōnof [the] dead ἐγὼegōI myself κρίνομαιkrinomaiam judged σήμερονsēmeronthis day ἐφ᾽eph᾽by ὑμῶν.¶humōnyou.

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Acts 23:6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
Acts 4:2 greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
Acts 26:6 And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,
Acts 28:20 So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”