Acts 26:7

“Unto which promise, etc.] Of the Messiah, and salvation by him; and of the resurrection of the dead and eternal glory, as following upon it: our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night hope to come; and enjoy the Messiah, and all blessings along with him; and the happy state of the resurrection and eternal life: the people of Israel were distinguished into twelve tribes, according to the names of the twelve patriarchs, the sons of Jacob; and though ten of the tribes had been carried captive, and had not returned as tribes, yet there were many of the several tribes, who either were left in the land, or returned along with the two tribes, and were mixed with them: and this way of…”

“Unto which promise--the fulfilment of it. our twelve tribes-- (Jam 1:1; and see on Luk 2:36). instantly--"intently"; see on Act 12:5. serving God--in the sense of religious worship; on "ministered," see on Act 13:2. day and night, hope to come--The apostle rises into language as catholic as the thought--representing his despised nation, all scattered thought it now was, as twelve great branches of one ancient stem, in all places of their dispersion offering to the God of their fathers one unbroken worship, reposing on one great "promise" made of old unto their fathers, and sustained by one "hope" of "coming" to its fulfilment; the single point of difference between him and his countrymen,…”

“Unto which promise - To the fulfillment of which promise they hope to come; that is, they hope and believe that the promise will be fulfilled, and that they will partake of its benefits. Our twelve tribes - This was the name by which the Jews were designated. The ancient Jewish nation had hoped to come to that promise; it had been the hope and expectation of the nation. Long before the coming of the Messiah, ten of the twelve tribes had been carried captive to Assyria, and had not returned, leaving but the two tribes of Benjamin and Judah. But the name, “the twelve tribes,” as used to designate the Jewish people, would be still retained. Compare James 1:1. Paul here says that the hope…”

“Our twelve tribes - For a great part of the ten tribes also had at various times returned from the east to their own country, Jam 1:1; Pe1 1:1. Worshipping continually night and day - That is, this is what they aim at in all their public and private worship. Acts 26:8”

“our: Ezr 6:17, Ezr 8:35; Mat 19:28; Luk 22:30; Jam 1:1; Rev 7:4-8 instantly: Act 20:31; Psa 134:1, Psa 134:2, Psa 135:2; Luk 2:36, Luk 2:37; Th1 3:10; Ti1 5:5 day and night: Gr. night and day hope: Luk 2:25, Luk 2:38, Luk 7:19, Luk 7:20; Phi 3:11 For: Act 26:6 Acts 26:8”