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Acts 26

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

What does Acts 26:7 mean?

Explanation

Acts 26:7 presents the Apostle Paul defending himself before King Agrippa, focusing on the hope for which he is being accused.

Paul refers to the "promise" which God made to the ancestors of the Jewish people, a promise that many Jews, including the twelve tribes, earnestly worship God day and night in hopes of attaining.

This hope is the redemption and resurrection that God has promised to His people.

Here, Paul establishes common ground with his Jewish accusers, as he himself shares in the same heritage and hope.

However, this hope has led to his accusation, being that he preaches Jesus as the Christ, the fulfillment of that promise.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

In Acts 26, Paul is on trial, defending himself against accusations made by Jewish leaders. This particular moment takes place after Paul's arrest in Jerusalem, during his defense before King Herod Agrippa II.

Historically, this would be around AD 62, during the first-century Jewish-Roman world.

The "twelve tribes" refer to the original twelve tribes of Israel, which are emblematic of the Jewish people.

Despite the dispersal and the lost ten tribes notion, Jews at this time still maintained an identity tied to these original tribes.

Theological Insights

This verse resonates with notions of messianic expectation in Jewish theology.

From a Christian viewpoint, the "promise" often refers to the coming of the Messiah, which Christians believe is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

The verse also speaks to the perseverance of faith, as the twelve tribes are portrayed persistently worshiping with the expectation of God's promise being realized.

This ties into eschatological themes, touching upon the hope of resurrection and eternal life.

The Jewish accusers, who are likely to hold a different messianic expectation, see Paul's claim that Jesus is the Messiah as heresy.

Practical Applications

The practical applications here involve faithfulness in worship and consistency of hope. Believers can draw inspiration from the example of the twelve tribes who, despite potential trials and long waiting periods, continue to serve God devoutly.

This verse could encourage individuals to persist in their spiritual practices with the confident expectation that God's promises are true and will be fulfilled.

Cross-References

Romans 11:1 - "I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid...

God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew."

Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Revelation 21:3 - "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them..."

Language Study

In the Greek text, significant words in Acts 26:7 include:

"Promise" (epangelia): Denotes a "pledge" or "announcement" of future blessing, central to Jewish eschatological hope.
"Earnestly" (ektenēs): This word suggests an intensity or "unceasingly," reflecting the depth of the tribes' worship.
"Serving" (latreuontes): Implies religious service or worship, commonly of a priestly or cultic nature.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Jewish expectation of a Messiah has parallels in other cultures' anticipation of savior figures.

For instance, Zoroastrianism speaks of a savior, Saoshyant, who would bring salvation.

The twelve tribes' devotion also parallels the devoutness observed in other ancient religious practices, often involving daily worship or acts to honor the gods and adhere to religious duties.

Scientific Perspectives

While scientific perspectives do not directly relate to the biblical text, the dedication of the "twelve tribes" can be observed through a psychological lens, examining the human capacity for hope and its effects on behavior and wellbeing.

Psychologically, such hope has known to be a strong motivator in human behavior.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 26:7 emphasize Paul's solidarity with his Jewish roots and his stance that he is being accused over a shared hope with his accusers.

Some commentators may focus on the nature of the "promise" and how it relates to the larger narrative of Scripture, especially concerning God's covenantal relationships.

Others discuss how Paul links his ministry and suffering to the hope that unifies all Jews, the coming of the Messiah, and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

Acts 26

Acts 26

What does Acts 26:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 26:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?