Acts 26:6
New International Version
And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today.

New Living Translation
Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors.

English Standard Version
And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,

Berean Standard Bible
And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,

Berean Literal Bible
And now I stand, being judged for the hope of the promise having been made by God to our fathers,

King James Bible
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

New King James Version
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

New American Standard Bible
And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers;

NASB 1995
“And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers;

NASB 1977
“And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers;

Legacy Standard Bible
And now I am standing here being tried for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers;

Amplified Bible
And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

Berean Annotated Bible
And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God {Theou} made to our fathers {pateras},

Christian Standard Bible
And now I stand on trial because of the hope in what God promised to our ancestors,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,

American Standard Version
And now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers;

Contemporary English Version
Now I am on trial because I believe the promise God made to our people long ago.

English Revised Version
And now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I'm on trial now because I expect God to keep the promise that he made to our ancestors.

Good News Translation
And now I stand here to be tried because of the hope I have in the promise that God made to our ancestors--

International Standard Version
"And now I stand here on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our ancestors.

NET Bible
And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors,

New Heart English Bible
Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,

Webster's Bible Translation
And now I stand, and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers:

Weymouth New Testament
And now I stand here impeached because of my hope in the fulfilment of the promise made by God to our forefathers--
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,

World English Bible
Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and now for the hope of the promise made to the fathers by God, I have stood judged,

Berean Literal Bible
And now I stand, being judged for the hope of the promise having been made by God to our fathers,

Young's Literal Translation
and now for the hope of the promise made to the fathers by God, I have stood judged,

Smith's Literal Translation
And now in the hope of the solemn promise having been made to the fathers by God, I stand, being judged,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And now for the hope of the promise that was made by God to the fathers, do I stand subject to judgment:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And now, it is in the hope of the Promise which was made by God to our fathers that I stand subject to judgment.

New American Bible
But now I am standing trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors.

New Revised Standard Version
And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And now I stand and am on trial for the hope of the promise made of God to our fathers.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Now for the hope of The Promise which our fathers had from God, I stand and I am judged.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers;

Godbey New Testament
And now for the hope of the promise which is from God to our fathers, I stand being judged:

Haweis New Testament
And this moment for the hope of the promise made of God to our fathers am I standing here to be judged:

Mace New Testament
and now I stand arraign'd for expecting the accomplishment of the divine promise made to our fathers,

Weymouth New Testament
And now I stand here impeached because of my hope in the fulfilment of the promise made by God to our forefathers--

Worrell New Testament
And now, for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, I have taken my stand to be judged;

Worsley New Testament
And now I stand arraigned for the hope of the promise which was made by God to our fathers:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Testimony to Agrippa
5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion. 6And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers, 7the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to realize as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.…

Cross References
And now I stand on trial

Acts 25:11-12
If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” / Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Acts 24:20-21
Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, / unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

2 Timothy 4:16-17
At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them. / But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
because of my hope

Acts 23:6
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

Acts 24:15
and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

Acts 28:20
So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
in the promise that God made

Hebrews 6:13-15
When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, / saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” / And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.

Galatians 3:16-18
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ. / What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. / For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

Romans 4:13-16
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. / For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, / because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. …
to our fathers,

Luke 1:72-73
to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, / the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

Romans 15:8
For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,

Romans 9:4-5
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. / Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.
Genesis 12:1-3
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 22:16-18
saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, / I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. / And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Genesis 26:3-5
Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. / I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, / because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

Genesis 28:13-15
And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. / Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”


Treasury of Scripture

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, to our fathers:

am.

Acts 26:8
Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

Acts 23:6
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Acts 24:15,21
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust…

the promise.

Acts 3:24
Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Acts 13:32,33
And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, …

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

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Acts 26
1. Paul, in the presence of Agrippa, declares his life from his childhood;
12. and how miraculously he was converted, and called to his apostleship.
24. Festus charges him with being insane, whereunto he answers modestly.
28. Agrippa is almost persuaded to be a Christian.
31. The whole company pronounces him innocent.












And now I stand on trial
Paul is speaking before King Agrippa, defending himself against accusations from Jewish leaders. This trial is part of a series of legal proceedings that began in Jerusalem and continued in Caesarea. Paul's trials reflect the early Christian experience of persecution and the legal challenges faced by the apostles. His defense is not just personal but also a testimony to the truth of the Gospel.

because of my hope
The "hope" Paul refers to is the resurrection of the dead, a central tenet of Christian faith. This hope is rooted in the promises of God and is a fulfillment of Jewish eschatological expectations. The resurrection is a cornerstone of Christian doctrine, as seen in 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul elaborates on its significance.

in the promise that God made
The promise refers to the covenantal promises made by God throughout the Old Testament. These include the promise of a Messiah, the restoration of Israel, and the ultimate redemption of humanity. Paul's message is that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of these promises, as seen in passages like Luke 24:44, where Jesus explains how He fulfills the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms.

to our fathers
"Our fathers" refers to the patriarchs of Israel—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and the prophets who followed. The promises made to them are foundational to Jewish identity and hope. Paul connects the Christian message to these ancient promises, emphasizing continuity rather than a break with Jewish tradition. This connection is also seen in Romans 9-11, where Paul discusses the relationship between Israel and the Church.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The speaker in this verse, Paul is defending himself before King Agrippa. He is a pivotal figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and epistles.

2. King Agrippa
The ruler before whom Paul is making his defense. Agrippa is knowledgeable about Jewish customs and controversies, making him a significant audience for Paul's testimony.

3. The Promise to the Fathers
Refers to the covenantal promises God made to the patriarchs of Israel, including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, concerning the coming Messiah and the hope of resurrection.

4. The Trial
Paul is on trial for his faith and his proclamation of the Gospel, specifically the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which he argues is the fulfillment of God's promises.

5. The Hope
Central to Paul's defense is the hope of resurrection, a core tenet of Christian faith, which he argues is consistent with Jewish belief and prophecy.
Teaching Points
The Continuity of God's Promises
God's promises to the patriarchs are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Believers today can trust in the continuity and faithfulness of God's word.

The Centrality of the Resurrection
The resurrection is not just a historical event but the cornerstone of Christian hope. It assures believers of eternal life and victory over sin and death.

Faith in Trials
Like Paul, Christians may face trials for their faith. Standing firm in the hope of God's promises provides strength and testimony to others.

Understanding Our Heritage
Knowing the roots of our faith in the promises to the patriarchs enriches our understanding of the Gospel and our identity as God's people.

Witnessing with Confidence
Paul's defense before Agrippa encourages believers to confidently share their faith, knowing it is grounded in the truth of God's promises.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Acts 26:6?

2. How does Acts 26:6 illustrate God's faithfulness to His promises to Israel?

3. What hope is Paul referring to in Acts 26:6, and why is it significant?

4. How can we apply Paul's confidence in God's promises to our daily lives?

5. In what ways does Acts 26:6 connect to Old Testament promises to the patriarchs?

6. How can Acts 26:6 encourage us to stand firm in our faith today?

7. What is the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers in Acts 26:6?

8. How does Acts 26:6 relate to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies?

9. Why does Paul emphasize the promise to the fathers in Acts 26:6?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 26?

11. How can I find hope in times of despair?

12. How does testing strengthen faith according to the Bible?

13. What are faith, hope, and love?

14. Is Christ in you the hope of glory?
What Does Acts 26:6 Mean
And now

• Paul brings his audience into the present moment, connecting everything that has happened in his life and ministry to what God is doing right “now.”

• The gospel never lives in yesterday’s stories alone; it speaks to the current situation, whether that is a Roman courtroom or our modern challenges (Acts 24:10; 1 Peter 3:15).


I stand on trial

• Paul’s chains do not contradict God’s faithfulness; they showcase it. Like his Savior, he endures earthly judgment while remaining innocent before God (John 15:20; 1 Corinthians 4:3-4).

• Earlier he said, “It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today” (Acts 24:21). His legal trouble centers on truth, not wrongdoing.


because of my hope

• Hope here is not wishful thinking; it is confident expectation anchored in the resurrection (Acts 23:6).

• Scripture ties hope to eternal life: “in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1:2).

• This hope is “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).


in the promise

• God’s promise threads through all of Scripture, beginning with Abraham: “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3).

• Every promise finds its “Yes” in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).

• Saints of old “did not receive what was promised,” yet they trusted God (Hebrews 11:39); Paul now proclaims that fulfillment has arrived in Jesus.


that God made

• The promise rests on God’s unchanging character: “the faithful God who keeps His covenant” (Deuteronomy 7:9).

• “He remembers His covenant forever” (Psalm 105:8).

Hebrews 6:13-18 underscores that God’s oath is doubly certain—guaranteed by His word and His nature.


to our fathers

• Paul roots Christian hope in Israel’s story. “You are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers” (Acts 3:25-26).

• The gospel fulfills “the promise to Abraham and his descendants” (Romans 4:13).

• Mary’s song echoes the same heritage: God remembers “to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever” (Luke 1:54-55).


summary

Paul’s statement in Acts 26:6 weaves together past promise and present reality. Standing before earthly judges, he rests on a divine oath secured by the resurrection of Jesus. The courtroom cannot silence the hope God pledged to the patriarchs, confirmed in Christ, and offered to all who believe.

(6) For the hope of the promise made of God. The words include the whole expectation of a divine kingdom of which the Christ was to be the head, as well as the specific belief in a resurrection of the dead.

Unto our fathers.--Some of the better MSS. have simply, "to the fathers." The Received text is, perhaps, more in harmony with St. Paul's usual manner of identifying himself with those to whom he speaks. He will claim even Agrippa as of the stock of Abraham. (Comp. in this connection the anecdote as to Agrippa I. given in Note on Acts 12:21.)

Verse 6. - Here to be judged for and am judged, A.V. To be judged (ἕστηκα κρινόμενος); rather, I stand on my trial. The A.V. seems to give the sense well. The hope of the promise. The hope of the kingdom of Christ, which necessarily implies the resurrection of the dead. This hope, which rested upon God's promise to the fathers, Paul clung to; this hope his Sadducean persecutors denied. He, then, was the true Jew; he was faithful to Moses and the prophets; he claimed the sympathy and support of all true Israelites, and specially of King Agrippa.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

now
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

I stand
ἕστηκα (hestēka)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2476: A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.

on trial
κρινόμενος (krinomenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2919: Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.

because of
ἐπ’ (ep’)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

[my] hope
ἐλπίδι (elpidi)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1680: Hope, expectation, trust, confidence. From a primary elpo; expectation or confidence.

in the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

promise [that]
ἐπαγγελίας (epangelias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1860: A promise. From epaggello; an announcement.

God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

made
γενομένης (genomenēs)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

fathers,
πατέρας (pateras)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.


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