Acts 23:1

¶ And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

And {G1161} Paul {G3972}, earnestly beholding {G816} the council {G4892}, said {G2036}, Men {G435} and brethren {G80}, I {G1473} have lived {G4176} in all {G3956} good {G18} conscience {G4893} before God {G2316} until {G891} this {G5026} day {G2250}.

Sha’ul looked straight at them and said, “Brothers, I have been discharging my obligations to God with a perfectly clear conscience, right up until today.”

Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.

Context

This verse opens Paul's appearance before the Jewish high council, the Sanhedrin, in Jerusalem. Paul had recently returned to Jerusalem and was falsely accused by certain Jews of defiling the Temple and teaching against the Law of Moses (Acts 21:28). After being rescued from a mob by Roman soldiers, he was brought before this influential body to explain himself. Paul's statement here is his opening defense, delivered with intense focus as he faced his accusers, many of whom were former colleagues or teachers.

Key Themes

  • Integrity and Conscience: Paul's declaration of having "lived in all good conscience before God" is central. It's a bold assertion of his moral and spiritual integrity, implying that his actions and beliefs, even his conversion to Christianity, were not driven by malice or deception but by sincere conviction before God.
  • Divine Oversight: Paul's claim suggests that his entire life, even his former persecution of Christians, was done according to what he believed was God's will at the time, and certainly his subsequent ministry was under divine guidance.
  • Facing Accusation: The verse highlights the challenge of defending one's faith and actions when facing misunderstanding or false charges. Paul chose to confront his accusers with a declaration of his sincere walk with God.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "conscience" is syneidēsis (συνείδησις), which refers to the inner moral awareness, the faculty by which one judges one's own actions and motives. Paul's use of "good conscience" indicates a pure, blameless inner state, free from guilt or intentional wrongdoing. This wasn't a claim of sinless perfection, but of sincere devotion and obedience to what he believed was right in God's sight at every stage of his life. He would later reiterate this commitment to maintaining a clear conscience (Acts 24:16).

Related Scriptures

  • Paul's past zeal as a Pharisee, believing he was serving God: Philippians 3:6, where he states that "as touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."
  • The importance of a good conscience for all believers: 1 Timothy 1:5 and 1 Peter 3:16 emphasize the value of maintaining a clear conscience as a foundation for faith and conduct.

Practical Application

Paul's declaration serves as a powerful reminder for believers today about the importance of living with integrity. Our ultimate accountability is not to human opinion or judgment, but to God. While we may face misunderstanding or false accusations, our aim should be to live in such a way that our conscience is clear before God, knowing that our motives and actions are aligned with His will. This verse encourages us to examine our own lives and strive for a consistent walk of faith and obedience, trusting that God sees and knows our hearts.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 24:16

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

  • 2 Timothy 1:3

    I thank God, whom I serve from [my] forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

  • 2 Corinthians 1:12

    ¶ For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

  • Hebrews 13:18

    ¶ Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:4

    For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

  • Acts 22:5

    As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:2

    But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back