THE HOPE OF ISRAEL - The Preterist Archive

CHAPTER XIV
"THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL." CHRIST'S PERSONAL
TEACHING
In a previous chapter it was pointed out, from the
repeated utterances of the apostle Paul recorded in
the last six chapters of Acts, that "the hope of Israel"
is identical with "the hope of the gospel," which hope
is, of course, the resurrection. We recall that to the
Jews at Rome Paul said: "For this cause therefore
have I called for you, to see you and to speak with you ;
because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with
this chain" (Acts 28:20).
What he had preached as the hope of Israel is clearly
stated in previous chapters of Acts. Thus, in chapter
23:6 he had said, "Of the hope and resurrection of the
dead I am called in question" (see also 24:14, 15).
And in replying to his accusers before Herod Agrippa
he said : "And now I stand and am judged for the hope
of the promise made of God unto our fathers, unto
which our twelve tribes instantly (or intently) serving
God day and night hope to come. For which hope's
sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why
should it be thought a thing incredible with you that
God should raise the dead?" (Acts. 26 :6-8)
. And in the
same address he solemnly affirmed that in all his testimony,
both to small and great, he had said "none other
things than those which the prophets and Moses did
say should come" (v. 22).
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