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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_26:2-3
2"In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; 3especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
Act_26:2-3 Paul introduces his defense in a typical formal and flattering way, as he did in his trial before Felix (cf. Act_24:10), which was probably a culturally expected necessity.
Act_26:2 "In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews" Agrippa II had been put in charge of the Temple and Priesthood by Rome. Although pro-Roman and educated in Rome, he understood the intricacies of the Jewish faith (cf. Act_26:3).
▣ "fortunate" This is the same term which introduces each of the Beatitudes of Mat_5:3-12; Luk_6:20-22; and Psa_1:1 in the Septuagint.
Act_26:3
NASB, NKJV "all customs and questions"
NRSV "all customs and controversies"
TEV "all of the Jewish customs and disputes"
NJB "customs and controversy"
The first term is ethôn, from which we get the English word "ethnic," or the cultural aspect of a particular people group.
The second term dzçtçmatôn is used often in Acts to denote debates and arguments over aspects of rabbinical Judaism (cf. Act_15:2; Act_18:15; Act_23:19; Act_25:19; Act_26:3). These were not uncommon because of the existence of several factions within first century Judaism : Sadducees, Pharisees (also the theological factions of Shammai and Hillel), and the zealots.