Hebrews 12 is closely related to Hebrews 11, where the writer lists many known and unknown witnesses of faith from the old covenant: Abel, Enoch, Abraham, etcetera until David, Samuel, and the prophets (Hebrews 11:32) and then the many unknown men and women (Hebrews 11:33–38). They were all on their way to the better homeland (Hebrews 11:13–16) and have died in faith. They preceded us and are now waiting in heaven for us to join them (Hebrews 11:39–40). Thus, the beginning of Hebrews 12:1–29 is about us as new covenant believers. This chapter begins with a clear connection: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, that is, all those believing brothers and sisters from Hebrews 11. Hebrews 12 is important in the whole of the letter because the writer calls and encourages the readers to persevere in the faith: perseverance leads to success, just look at the long line of witnesses who have gone before you!

The first readers are Hebrew Christians, the first messianic Jews, possibly in Jerusalem. They have separated themselves from the temple and the priests and now confess the Messiah, Jesus, the Son of God, as their Saviour and High Priest, who is in heaven. These young Christians must hold fast to that confession (Hebrews 4:14 and Hebrews 8:1–2). They are familiar with the books of Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophets. The writer can link up with that and shows the superlative position of Jesus Christ from many quotes in the Old Testament.

We can think of the life of the first Christians in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, as Acts 2–8 writes about it: they are persecuted by their own people (the Jewish government) and have to flee. Stephen becomes the first martyr.

The followers of Jesus are caught between two fires: the Jews and the Roman occupier, going through hard times in the 66–70s AD, in the Jewish war against the Romans that culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The believers experience hardship and are in danger of letting go of their faith in the Messiah. Will they survive in times of crisis?

The writer remains anonymous to us (is it perhaps Barnabas or Apollos?), but to the early hearers of this word of exhortation (Hebrews 13:22) he is no stranger. He is one of them, as evidenced by the plural us in Hebrews 12:1–2.