Bo​az Baptist Chronicles

A Brother writes...

“Looking for the differences between From the dead Acts 13:34, Among the dead Lk. 24:5 and Of the dead Mt. 22:31 and Acts 24:21”

I'm gonna put these in a different order, to make it easier...

1. Among the dead... “And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?” Luke 24:5

The context here is the bodily resurrection of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus. So, what was being asked by the angels was, why are you looking for a living person “among the dead?”

2. Of the dead... “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Matthew 22:31-32

...and...

“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.” Acts 24:21

The context in these two verses has to do with a general resurrection. The Jews believed that, at the end, there would be a general resurrection or a resurrection “of” the dead culminating in a general judgment. In the second verse you quote (Acts 24:21), Paul (before Felix) makes his defense by saying...

Acts 24:14  But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15  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.

The “they” of verse 14 is referring to the Pharisees. The Pharisees (which Paul was one, Acts 22:3 and Acts 23:6-8; 26:5, Philippians 3:5) believed in a general resurrection...

“But 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 23:6)   

3. From the dead... “And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.  Acts 13:34”

The context of this last verse is a little different than just a general resurrection. It speaks of an specific individual who comes up FROM the dead. That individual is mentioned in the preceeding verses...

22  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23  Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: 24  When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25  And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. 26  Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 27  For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemninghim. 28  And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29  And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30  But God raised him from the dead: 31  And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 32  And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33  God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 

Please, notice verse 30 and 33. God specifically raised up Jesus “FROM the dead.” (See Acts 3:15; 4:2; 4:10; 17:31, Romans 1:4; 10:7, I Corinthians 15:12, Colossians 1:18, I Peter 1:3; 1:21)