apostolic speeches typically end in paraenesis,5 the reason that the people must repent and believe is that Jesus lives (e.g., Acts 2:33–39; 13:37–41). My goal will thus be to show that at various key junctures of the apostolic preaching (including Paul’s defenses), the conclusions and implications depend upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I will likewise argue for the key role of the resurrection more broadly in Acts, beyond the speeches. Second, in addition to the that of the resurrection’s