As the Roman Tribune is trying desperately to figure out why the Jews are trying to kill Paul, the apostle takes the opportunity to remind everyone why he is on trial in the first place: “It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead.” The word hope in the Bible doesn’t simply mean wish or desire or longing, like we use it today. Rather, it means a joyful and confident expectation of future salvation. But how on earth can Christians claim to have that kind of hope? The answer is in verse 6: the resurrection of the dead. Christians can have an unshakable confidence for a bright future because Jesus’ resurrection proves the gospel is true, promises our own resurrection, and provides power to persevere in trusting and obeying Jesus.