Acts 26: The importance of resurrection to Paul

Paul is before king Agrippa (who knows the prophets and the Jewish tradition) and Festus (a Roman governor appointed to rule Judea). In today terms, Festus would be a "rational" guy who doesn't believe in resurrection. Thus, Paul is glad to be listened by king Agrippa who can understand the situation. In the book of Acts, it is the third time that the conversion of Paul is told. In his explanation, he is saying that he was like his enemies - who was also against the followers of Jesus; but he saw Jesus resurrected. He reread all the Tanakh and concluded that it was all about Jesus. Paul said to king Agrippa:

22-23 And everything I’m saying is completely in line with what the prophets and Moses said would happen: One, the Messiah must die; two, raised from the dead, he would be the first rays of God’s daylight shining on people far and near, people both godless and God-fearing.

Paul had a mission given by Jesus:

17-18 “‘I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.’

For Festus, Jesus is dead; but for Paul, Jesus is not only alive, but He is the reason of his life.