Acts 26:6-8
What is written? (ESV)
And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
What does it say?
And now I [Paul] am on trial because of God’s promise that He made to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain as they worship day and night. It is for this hope I’m accused by the Jews, O king [Agrippa]! Why do any of you think it’s incredible that God raises the dead?
What is its immediate context?
Upon returning to Jerusalem from his third missionary journey, Paul has been arrested by the Romans based on charges levied by the Jews of the city (21:27-36 and 23:12-15). He will ultimately end up in Rome to plead his case before the Emperor (chapters 27-28). Leading up to that he would give a defense before Felix, the governor of Judea (chapters 23-24), Festus who replaced him (chapter 25), and King Agrippa (chapter 26). Also told by Luke in Acts (9:1-19) and the first time by Paul before the Jewish crowd (22:3-16).
How Acts 26:6-8 is applied across Bible answers
Will there be a physical bodily resurrection?
Paul once again8 connects his "hope" with the fact "that God raises the dead".
Built upon this fundamental hope (e.g. physical bodily resurrection) is the receiving of forgiveness of sins and a shared inheritance (vs 18). Paul also again connects and confirms Jesus' own physical bodily resurrection as the first1 (vs 23), implying that others follow like His.
