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Acts 24:16

in Acts 24

In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Herein I also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.

KJV

And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

This verse in Acts 24

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

We show perfect virtue when we both give people no occasion for stumbling and strive to be blameless before God.

This site's exposition

both the righteous and the wicked

on Acts 24:15-16

Paul grounds his hope in God on a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked, a hope he says they themselves cherish. It is the fullest single statement of the doctrine's scope in Paul's recorded speeches.

This site's exposition

a clear conscience

The verb Paul uses means to train or practise, and Barnes explains it as his constant aim. Clarke ties it to the coming judgment, since a man who expects to answer for his deeds guards them.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 50 · Written before 407.

proposed

And in this, do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men. This is the perfection of virtue, when even to men we give no handle against us, and are careful to be void of offence with God. Having, he says, a conscience void of offence both toward God, and toward men.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Sins of infirmity are uneasy to conscience, but they do not wound it, and waste it, as presumptuous sins do; and, though offence may be given to conscience, yet care must be taken that it be not an abiding offence, but that by the renewed acts of faith and repentance the matter may be taken up again quickly.
And herein do I exercise myself,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

And herein do I exercise myself - And this very tenet is a pledge for my good behavior; for as I believe there will be a resurrection, both of the just and unjust, and that every man shall be judged for the deeds done in the body, so I exercise myself day and night, that I may have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men. Toward God - In entertaining no opinion contrary to his truth; and in offering no worship contrary to his dignity, purity, and excellence.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

And herein--On this account, accordingly; that is, looking forward to that awful day (compare 2Co 5:10). I exercise myself--The "I" here is emphatic; "Whatever they do, this is my study." to have always a conscience void of offence, &c.--See Ac 23:1;
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

And herein - In this, or for this purpose. Do I exercise myself - ἀσκῶ askō. I accustom or employ myself; I make it my constant aim. Paul often appeals to his conscientiousness as the leading habit of his life. Even before his conversion he endeavored to act according to the dictates of conscience. See Act 26:9; compare Php 3:5-6. To have always a conscience ... - To do what is right, so that my conscience shall never reproach me. Void of offence - ἀπρόσκοπον aproskopon. That which is inoffensive, or which does not cause one to stumble or fall. He means that he endeavored to keep his conscience so enlightened and pure in regard to duty, and that he acted according to its dictates in such a way that his conduct should not be displeasing to God or injurious to man. To have such a conscience implies two things: (1) That it be enlightened or properly informed in regard to truth and duty; and, (2) That what is made known to be right should be honestly and faithfully performed. Without these two things no man can have a conscience that will be inoffensive and harmless. Toward God - In an honest endearour to discharge the duties of public and private worship, and to do constantly what he requires believing all that he has spoken; doing all that he requires; and offering to him the service which he approves. Toward men - In endeavoring to meet all the demands of justice and mercy; to advance their knowledge, happiness, and salvation; living so that I may look back on my life with the reflection that I have done all that I ought to have done, and all that I could do to promote the welfare of the whole human family. What a noble principle of conduct was this! How elevated and how pure! […]

The words behind it

16 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Hebrews 10:22

    let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

    it leads to

    • Ezekiel 36:25

      I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.

    • John 3:5

      Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

    • Ephesians 5:26

      to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

    • 1 Peter 3:21

      And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

    • 1 Corinthians 6:11

      And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 4:2

    Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to…

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 5:11

      Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 2 Corinthians 2:17

      For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.

  • Through

    1 Timothy 1:5

    The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.

    it leads to

    • 1 Timothy 1:19

      holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.

Where this verse is studied

On this page

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 50; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.