SEV Biblia, Chapter 26:7
a la cual promesa nuestras doce tribus, sirviendo constantemente de día y de noche, esperan que han de llegar. Por esta esperanza, oh rey Agripa, soy acusado de los judíos.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. Unto which promise , etc.] Of the Messiah, and salvation by him; and of the resurrection of the dead and eternal glory, as following upon it: our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night hope to come ; and enjoy the Messiah, and all blessings along with him; and the happy state of the resurrection and eternal life: the people of Israel were distinguished into twelve tribes, according to the names of the twelve patriarchs, the sons of Jacob; and though ten of the tribes had been carried captive, and had not returned as tribes, yet there were many of the several tribes, who either were left in the land, or returned along with the two tribes, and were mixed with them: and this way of speaking here used by Paul, and also by James, ( James 1:1) is justified by Jewish writers: the Misnic doctors say f1226 , the twelve tribes bring twelve heifers, and for idolatry they bring twelve heifers and twelve goats: compare with this ( Ezra 6:17, 8:35), yea, they say ``twelve tribes are called, lhq , a congregation, eleven tribes are not called a congregation. This suggests a reason of the apostles use of this phrase, for he here represents the Israelites as a worshipping assembly, serving God continually, night and day, as they were by their representatives, the priests and stationary men in the temple; and that with intenseness, ardour, and fervency, as the word rendered instantly signifies being in a longing and earnest expectation of the coming of the Messiah, and of his world to come, and of the resurrection of the dead, and a future state of happiness. For which hopes sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews : for preaching that the Messiah, the twelve tribes hope for, is already come and that there is salvation in him, and in no other, and that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both just and unjust; and that there is another world and state after this, in which men will be happy and miserable; and these were the charges and accusations, or the sum of what were exhibited against him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - Christianity teaches us to give a reason of the hope that is in us, an also to give honour to whom honour is due, without flattery or fear of man. Agrippa was well versed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament therefore could the better judge as to the controversy about Jesu being the Messiah. Surely ministers may expect, when they preach the faith of Christ, to be heard patiently. Paul professes that he stil kept to all the good in which he was first educated and trained up. Se here what his religion was. He was a moralist, a man of virtue, and ha not learned the arts of the crafty, covetous Pharisees; he was no chargeable with any open vice and profaneness. He was sound in the faith. He always had a holy regard for the ancient promise made of God unto the fathers, and built his hope upon it. The apostle knew very well that all this would not justify him before God, yet he knew it wa for his reputation among the Jews, and an argument that he was not suc a man as they represented him to be. Though he counted this but loss that he might win Christ, yet he mentioned it when it might serve to honour Christ. See here what Paul's religion is; he has not such zea for the ceremonial law as he had in his youth; the sacrifices an offerings appointed by that, are done away by the great Sacrifice whic they typified. Of the ceremonial cleansings he makes no conscience, an thinks the Levitical priesthood is done away in the priesthood of Christ; but, as to the main principles of his religion, he is a zealous as ever. Christ and heaven, are the two great doctrines of the gospel; that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. These are the matter of the promise made unto the fathers. The temple service, or continual course of religious duties, day and night was kept up as the profession of faith in the promise of eternal life and in expectation of it. The prospect of eternal life should engage u to be diligent and stedfast in all religious exercises. Yet the Sadducees hated Paul for preaching the resurrection; and the other Jew joined them, because he testified that Jesus was risen, and was the promised Redeemer of Israel. Many things are thought to be beyon belief, only because the infinite nature and perfections of Him tha has revealed, performed, or promised them, are overlooked. Pau acknowledged, that while he continued a Pharisee, he was a bitter enem to Christianity. This was his character and manner of life in the beginning of his time; and there was every thing to hinder his being Christian. Those who have been most strict in their conduct befor conversion, will afterwards see abundant reason for humblin themselves, even on account of things which they then thought ought to have been done.
Greek Textus Receptus
εις 1519 PREP ην 3739 R-ASF το 3588 T-NSN δωδεκαφυλον 1429 N-NSN ημων 2257 P-1GP εν 1722 PREP εκτενεια 1616 N-DSF νυκτα 3571 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ ημεραν 2250 N-ASF λατρευον 3000 5723 V-PAP-NSN ελπιζει 1679 5719 V-PAI-3S καταντησαι 2658 5658 V-AAN περι 4012 PREP ης 3739 R-GSF ελπιδος 1680 N-GSF εγκαλουμαι 1458 5743 V-PPI-1S βασιλευ 935 N-VSM αγριππα 67 N-VSM υπο 5259 PREP των 3588 T-GPM ιουδαιων 2453 A-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. Twelve tribes (dwdekafulon). Only here in New Testament. A collective term, embracing the tribes as a whole. Meyer renders our twelve-tribe-stock.Instantly (en ekteneia). Only here in New Testament. Lit., in intensity. See on fervently, 1 Pet. i. 22. Compare more earnestly, Luke xxii. 44; without ceasing, Acts xii. 5; fervent, 1 Pet. iv. 8. See, also, on instantly and instant, Luke vii. 4; xxiii. 23.
Serving. Compare ch. xxiv. 14; and see on Luke i. 74.
Come (katanthsai). Lit., to arrive at, as if at a goal. Compare ch. xvi. 1; xviii. 19; xxv. 13, etc. Rev. attain.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
26:7 {Our twelve tribes} (to dwdekafulon hemwn). A word found only here in N.T. and in Christian and Jewish writings, though dwdekamenon (twelve month) is common in the papyri and dekafulos (ten tribes) in Herodotus. Paul's use of this word for the Jewish people, like #Jas 1:1 (tais dwdeka fulais, the twelve tribes), shows that Paul had no knowledge of any "lost ten tribes." There is a certain national pride and sense of unity in spite of the dispersion (Page). {Earnestly} (en ekteneiai). A late word from ekteinw, to stretch out, only here in N.T., but in papyri and inscriptions. Page refers to Simeon and Anna (#Lu 2:25-28) as instances of Jews looking for the coming of the Messiah. Note the accusative of nukta kai hemeran as in #20:31. {Hope to attain} (elpizei katantesai). this Messianic hope had been the red thread running through Jewish history. Today, alas, it is a sadly worn thread for Jews who refuse to see the Messiah in Jesus. {I am accused by Jews} (egkaloumai hupo ioudaiwn). The very word used in #23:28 (enekaloun) which see, and by Jews of all people in the world whose mainspring was this very "hope." It is a tremendously effective turn.
