“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.”
My Notes
What Does Acts 26:7 Mean?
"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." Paul makes a staggering claim: the TWELVE TRIBES of Israel — the entire nation, serving God day and night — HOPE for the same promise Paul preaches. The resurrection-hope isn't Paul's innovation. It's Israel's HERITAGE. And the charge against Paul is for preaching the very hope that ALL ISRAEL shares. Paul is accused of holding the NATIONAL hope.
The phrase "our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night" (to dōdekaphulon hēmōn en ekteneia nykta kai hēmeran latreuon — our twelve-tribe-nation in earnestness night and day worshiping) claims the ENTIRE NATION: not just Judah and Benjamin (the post-exilic remnant) but the TWELVE TRIBES — the complete Israel, including the ten 'lost' northern tribes. Paul asserts that ALL Israel — in its worship, in its Temple service, in its daily devotion — hopes for the resurrection. The worship IS the hoping.
The "for which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused" (peri hēs elpidos enkaloumei hypo Ioudaiōn — concerning which hope I am accused by Jews) is the IRONY that defines Paul's trial: he's accused BY JEWS of holding a JEWISH hope. The prosecutors share the defendant's theology. The accusers believe in the promise the accused preaches. Paul is on trial for the national hope of the nation that put him on trial.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What hope are you being accused of that your accusers actually share?
- 2.What does twelve tribes sharing Paul's hope teach about the resurrection being Israel's heritage, not Paul's innovation?
- 3.How does being accused of the national faith describe the absurdity of the trial?
- 4.What does Paul addressing the king directly teach about speaking truth to power?
Devotional
The twelve tribes hope for THIS promise. Serving God day and night. And I am accused — of THAT hope. Paul's defense before Agrippa is devastating: the resurrection-hope I preach IS the hope all Israel shares. The entire nation worships toward this promise. And the nation that shares the hope has put me on trial for preaching it.
The 'twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night' claims the ENTIRE NATION as co-hopers: not a sect. Not a faction. The TWELVE TRIBES. Paul asserts that Israel's daily, earnest, day-and-night worship is directed toward the SAME promise Paul preaches — the resurrection. The worship and the hope are connected. The serving IS the hoping. Israel worships the God who raises the dead.
The 'for which hope's sake I am accused' is the irony that should end the trial: the ACCUSED and the ACCUSERS share the SAME HOPE. The Jews who put Paul on trial ALSO hope for the resurrection. The prosecution and the defense believe the same thing. The charge is: Paul preaches the resurrection. The response is: ALL ISRAEL hopes for the resurrection. The accusation is the national faith.
Paul addresses AGRIPPA directly — drawing the KING into the irony: King Agrippa, YOU know this. You know what the twelve tribes hope for. You know the promise. The trial isn't about a novel teaching. It's about the fulfillment of the promise the entire nation has been waiting for. The question isn't whether the promise is true. It's whether it's been FULFILLED — in Jesus.
What hope are you being accused of that is actually shared by your accusers?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Unto which promise,.... Of the Messiah, and salvation by him; and of the resurrection of the dead and eternal glory, as…
Unto which promise - To the fulfillment of which promise they hope to come; that is, they hope and believe that the…
Agrippa was the most honourable person in the assembly, having the title of king bestowed upon him, though otherwise…
unto which promise This makes it clear that the promise was the sending of Him in whom all the families of the earth…
Cross References
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