Acts 26:7
What does Acts 26:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 26:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 26:7 means
Paul notes that all twelve tribes, serving God with zeal day and night, hope to attain this promise. His point is unity: the nation as a whole longs for what God pledged. Thus, his accusers indict him for holding the very hope they profess. The irony is sharp: devotion without recognition of fulfillment becomes opposition. Paul is not introducing a fringe idea but asserting that in Jesus’ resurrection the common hope has dawned. The relentless worship of Israel testifies to expectation; Paul claims the expectation has met its object in Christ, bringing forgiveness and inheritance to those sanctified by faith in Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king!
KJV
King James Version · 1611Unto 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For the effecting of which our twelve tribes have been working and waiting night and day with all their hearts. And in connection with this hope I am attacked by the Jews, O king!
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862to which our twelve tribes, intently night and day serving, do hope to come, concerning which hope I am accused, king Agrippa, by the Jews;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Unto which, our twelve tribes, serving night and day, hope to come. For which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890to which our whole twelve tribes serving incessantly day and night hope to arrive; about which hope, O king, I am accused of [the] Jews.
Context
Continuing the theme from verse 6, Paul elevates the hope as national and continual. Framing it as the twelve tribes’ hope strengthens his claim that he is not abandoning Israel. The climactic question in verse 8—about God raising the dead—follows naturally, since resurrection is core to that hope. After this doctrinal framing, Paul will recount his past hostility and persecution (vv.9–11), which makes his present confession all the more striking when he meets the risen Jesus (vv.12–18).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 20:31
Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears.
- Luke 7:19
And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to the Lord, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?
- Luke 2:25
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
- Philippians 3:11
if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.
- Psalms 134:1
Behold, bless ye Jehovah, all ye servants of Jehovah, That by night stand in the house of Jehovah.
- Ezra 8:35
The children of the captivity, that were come out of exile, offered burnt-offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burnt-offering unto Jehovah.
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