Acts 26:6

6 It's because I believed it and took it seriously,

Acts 26:6 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 26:6

And now I stand, and am judged
Before the Roman governor, and in the presence of Agrippa:

for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers;
either for the hope of righteousness, life, and salvation, by the Messiah; who was promised to the Jewish fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and others; see ( Genesis 22:18 ) ( 49:10 ) or for the hope of the resurrection of the dead, and eternal life; of which there are various testimonies in the writings of the Old Testament, committed to the people of the Jews. ( Job 19:26 Job 19:27 ) ( Isaiah 26:19 ) ( Daniel 12:2 ) and others; and both these senses may be very well joined together, for it was for asserting that the promised Messiah was come, and that Jesus of Nazareth was he; that he was risen from the dead, and that all the dead will be raised by him; and that life and righteousness, salvation, and everlasting glory and happiness, are only by him; for asserting these things, I say, the apostle was now a prisoner, and stood at the bar of a Roman judge, being accused by the Jews.

Acts 26:6 In-Context

4 "From the time of my youth, my life has been lived among my own people in Jerusalem.

5 Practically every Jew in town who watched me grow up - and if they were willing to stick their necks out they'd tell you in person - knows that I lived as a strict Pharisee, the most demanding branch of our religion.

6 It's because I believed it and took it seriously,

7 committed myself heart and soul to what God promised my ancestors - the identical hope, mind you, that the twelve tribes have lived for night and day all these centuries - it's because I have held on to this tested and tried hope that I'm being called on the carpet by the Jews. They should be the ones standing trial here, not me!

8 For the life of me, I can't see why it's a criminal offense to believe that God raises the dead.