“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.”
'This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O King, it is because of this hope that I am being accused by the Jews. - The 'twelve tribes' (dōdeka phylai, dōdeka phylai) represent all Israel, unified in an 'earnest' (ektenēs, ektenēs-'intense, stretched out') service 'day and night' (nykta kai hēmeran, nykta kai hēmeran). Their hope and Paul's are one. His accusation, therefore, is paradoxical: the Jews prosecute him for believing what they themselves expect-the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel. He frames his imprisonment as itself fulfilling the promise (through witnessing to it before the Gentile world).
Church Fathers on Acts 26:7
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? Acts 26:6-8 Two arguments he lays down for the Resurrection: one, the argument from the prophets: and he does not bring forward any prophet (in…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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