Acts 24:15 is often misinterpreted to support universalism, suggesting that the resurrection of both just and unjust implies salvation for everyone regardless of faith or deeds, ignoring the context of impending judgment Paul describes elsewhere. Another common error denies any resurrection for the unjust, twisting the plain statement into mere annihilation or non-existence, while others view it as endorsing soul sleep without conscious afterlife, overlooking the passage's emphasis on a shared Pharisaic hope in bodily resurrection for accountability before God.
Acts 24:15
King James Version (1769)
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.
In Acts 24:15, Paul expresses his hope in God for a future resurrection of the dead, encompassing both the righteous and the unrighteous, a belief he notes is shared even by his Pharisee accusers. This core truth underscores the universal scope of God's judgment and vindication, affirming that all people will face resurrection to accountability before Him, highlighting themes of divine justice, hope beyond death, and the impartiality of God's plan for humanity.