Act 24:15, 21, 26:6, 28:20 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 15. And have hope toward God . Having a hope of the resurrection of the dead, which arises from the promises of God. Which they themselves , etc. That is, the Pharisees. Perhaps he designated in this remark the Pharisees who were present, he held nothing in this great cardinal point, which they did not also hold. For the reasons why Paul introduced this point so prominently, and the success of thus introducing it, , also . Both the just and unjust . Of the righteous and the wicked; that is, of all the race. As they held this, they could not arraign him for holding it also. (e) "hope toward God" (+) "allow" "admit" (f) "resurrection of the dead" (++) "unjust" "righteous and unrighteous"

Acts 24:15

Verse 15. And have hope toward God. Having a hope of the resurrection of the dead, which arises from the promises of God.

Which they themselves, etc. That is, the Pharisees. Perhaps he designated in this remark the Pharisees who were present, he held nothing in this great cardinal point, which they did not also hold. For the reasons why Paul introduced this point so prominently, and the success of thus introducing it, Acts 23:1, also Acts 23:2-9.

Both the just and unjust. Of the righteous and the wicked; that is, of all the race. As they held this, they could not arraign him for holding it also.

(e) "hope toward God" Acts 23:6, 26:6,7, 28:20 (+) "allow" "admit" (f) "resurrection of the dead" Dan 12:2, Jn 5:28,29, 1Cor 15:12-27 Rev 20:6,13 (++) "unjust" "righteous and unrighteous"

Acts 24:21

Verse 21. Except it be for this one voice. For this one expression, or decimation. This was what Paul had said before the council--the main thing on which he had insisted; and he calls on them to testify to this, and to show, if they could, that in this declaration he had been wrong. Chubb and other infidels have supposed that Paul here acknowledges that he was wrong in the declaration which he made, when he said, that he was called in question for the doctrine of the resurrection of the del (Acts 23:6,) and his conscience reproached him for appearing to be time-serving, and for concealing the true cause of offence against him; and for attempting to take advantage of their divisions of sentiment, and endeavouring to produce discord in the council. But against this interpretation we may urge the following considerations:

(1.) Paul wished to fix their attention on the main thing which he had said before the council.

(2.) It was true, as has been shown on the passage, (Acts 23:1-10), that this was the principal doctrine which Paul had been defending.

(3.) If they were prepared to witness against him for holding and teaching the resurrection of the dead as a false or evil doctrine, he called on them to do it. As this had been the only thing which they had witnessed before the council, he calls on them to testify to what they knew only, and to show, if they could, that this was wrong.

Touching the resurrection, etc. Respecting the resurrection, Acts 23:6.

(*) "one voice" "declaration" (+) "cried" "proclaimed"

Acts 26:6

Verse 6. And now I stand. I stand before the tribunal. I am arraigned.

And am judged. Am tried with reference to being judged. I am undergoing a trial on the point in which all my nation are agreed.

For the hope. On account of the hope; or because, in common with my countrymen, I had entertained this hope, and now believe in its fulfillment.

Of the promise, etc. See the references in the margin. It is not quite certain whether Paul refers here to the promise of the Messiah, or to the hope of the resurrection of the dead. When he stood before the Jewish sanhedrim, Acts 23:6, he said that he was called in question on account of holding the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. But it may be observed, that in Paul's view, the two things were closely united. He hoped that the Messiah would come, and he hoped therefore for the resurrection of the dead. He believed that he had come, and had risen; and therefore he believed that the dead would rise. He argued the one from the other. And as he believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and that he had risen from the dead, and had thus furnished a demonstration that the dead would rise, it was evident that the subject of controversy between him and the Jews involved everything that was vital to their opinions and their hopes. See Acts 24:8.

Made of God. Made by God. See the marginal references. The promises had been made to the fathers of a Messiah to come, and that embraced the promise of a future state, or of the resurrection of the dead. It will help us to understand the stress which Paul and the other apostles laid on the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, to remember that it involved the whole doctrine of the separate existence of the soul, and of a future state. The Sadducees denied all this; and when the Pharisees, the Saviour, and the apostles opposed them, they did it by showing that there would be a future state of rewards and punishments. See the argument of the Saviour with the Sadducees explained: Lk 20:27-38.

Unto our fathers. Our ancestors, the patriarchs, etc.

(e) "I stand" Acts 23:6 (f) "promise made of God" Gen 3:15, 22:18, 49:10, De 18:15, 2Sam 7:12 Isa 4:2, 7:14, 9:6,7, Jer 23:5, 33:14-16, Eze 34:23, Dan 9:24, Mic 7:20 Zech 13:1,7, Mal 3:1, Acts 13:32, Gal 4:4

Acts 28:20

Verse 20. Because that for the hope of Israel. On account of the hope which the Jews cherished of the coming of the Messiah; of the resurrection; and of the future state through him. Acts 23:6.

I am bound with this chain. Acts 26:29. Probably he was attached constantly to a soldier by a chain.

(b) "hope of Israel" Acts 26:6,7 (c) "chain" Acts 26:29, Eph 3:1, 4:1, 6:20, 2Ti 1:16, 2:9, Phm 1:10,13.