Acts 26:7 - Exposition

Earnestly for instantly, A.V.; might and day for day and night, A.V. ; attain for come, A.V. ; and concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O King! for for which hope ' s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews, A.V. and T.R. Our twelve tribes . δωδεκάφυλον only occurs here, in the Sibylline oracles, and in the protevangel. Jacob., 3, and in Clement's 1 Corinthians 55, but is formed, after the analogy of such words as δωδεκαετής δωδεκάμοιρος δωδεκάμηνος τετράφυλος δεκάφυλος (Herod., 5.66), and the like. The idea of the twelve tribes of Israel is part of the essential conception of the Israel of God. So our Lord ( Matthew 19:28 ; James 1:1 ; Revelation 7:4 , etc.). St. Paul felt and spoke like a thorough Israelite. Earnestly ; ἐν ἐκτενείᾳ , only here and in 2 Macc. 14:38 (where Razis is said to have risked his body and his life for the religion of the Jews, μετᾶ πάσης ἐκτενίας , "with all vehemence," A.V.), and Judith 4:9, where the phrase, ἐν ἐκτενίᾳ μεγάλῃ , "with great vehemency," "with great fervency," A.V., occurs twice, applied to prayer and to self-humiliation. The adjective ἐκτενής occurs in Acts 12:5 ; Luke 22:44 ; 1 Peter 4:8 ; and ἐκτενῶς in 1 Peter 1:22 . Serving ( λατρεῦον ) ; i.e. serving with worship, prayers, sacrifices and the like. The allusion is to the temple service, with its worship by night and by day (comp. Psalms 134:1 ; 1 Chronicles 9:33 ).