Acts 24 16

Acts 24:16 kjv

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

Acts 24:16 nkjv

This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Acts 24:16 niv

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Acts 24:16 esv

So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

Acts 24:16 nlt

Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

Acts 24 verses

Acts 24 16 Meaning

Acts 24:16 states Paul's commitment and discipline to consistently maintain a clear and blameless conscience before both God and all people. It encapsulates his diligent striving for moral purity and integrity in thought and action, rooted in his faith and hope in the resurrection. This declaration highlights his sincerity and innocence amidst accusations, demonstrating his consistent walk as a believer striving to please the Lord and live peacefully with others.

Acts 24 16 Context

Acts 24 describes Paul's defense before Governor Felix in Caesarea. He is accused by Tertullus, a professional orator representing the Jewish high priest Ananias and the elders, of being a "pestilential fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5). Paul calmly refutes these charges. Before verse 16, Paul addresses the accusation that he stirred up a riot and desecrated the temple (Acts 24:10-13), stating his actions were within the bounds of his faith, which he shares with his accusers – believing in the Law and the Prophets and the resurrection of the dead (Acts 24:14-15). Verse 16 serves as the culmination of his defense, asserting his moral consistency and integrity in light of these beliefs, highlighting his genuine ethical striving, rather than rebellion or lawlessness. This declaration is crucial as it portrays Paul not as a revolutionary, but as a devout individual whose life is ordered by a commitment to spiritual and moral purity before God and people.

Acts 24 16 Word analysis

• And herein (καὶ ἐν τούτῳ – kai en toutō): Connects Paul's present statement directly to what he has just asserted about his faith in the Law, Prophets, and resurrection (v. 14-15). It indicates that in light of this belief is where his moral striving is focused. It links theology directly to ethics.
• do I exercise myself (ἀσκῶ – askō): This verb means "to train," "to practice," "to discipline oneself." It's the root of the English word "asceticism," implying a conscious and diligent effort, not a passive state. It signifies a continuous, intentional striving and self-mastery. Paul isn't claiming perfection, but relentless effort in this area. It points to an active pursuit, reflecting deliberate choices and actions rather than mere desire or aspiration.
• to have (ἔχειν – echein): Implies possession or maintenance. Paul strives to possess and keep something, emphasizing its continuous nature.
• always (διὰ παντός – dia pantos): "Through all," or "at all times." This stresses the unceasing and consistent nature of Paul's discipline. It indicates an ongoing commitment without lapse, day in and day out, in all circumstances.
• a conscience (συνείδησιν – syneidēsin): From syn (with) + eidenai (to know). It means "a co-knowledge," referring to one's self-awareness of one's actions, thoughts, and intentions, along with a moral judgment about them. It's the inner witness that approves or disapproves, often described as an internal moral compass or arbiter.
• void of offence (ἀπρόσκοπον – aproskopon): Literally "without stumbling," "without offense," "blameless," "causing no offense." It carries a dual meaning:
  • Not offending others: Avoiding causing others to stumble or take offense through one's actions or words.
  • Not stumbling oneself: Maintaining a clear inner state, free from guilt or condemnation from one's own actions. It means a clear, unburdened conscience, free from any self-reproach or accusation, or causing stumbling to others due to immoral or inconsistent behavior.
• toward God (πρὸς τὸν Θεόν – pros ton Theon): The vertical dimension. Paul strives to have a conscience free from offense in God's sight. This means aligning his life with divine will, respecting God's holiness, and maintaining a pure devotion. This directly addresses the charges of apostasy or heresy from Jewish leaders.
• and toward men (καὶ ἀνθρώπους – kai anthrōpous): The horizontal dimension. Paul seeks to be blameless in his dealings with humanity. This involves acting justly, honestly, lovingly, and avoiding behaviors that would cause harm, injustice, or moral compromise to others. This directly counters accusations of being a public agitator or a danger to society.

Words-group Analysis:

• "And herein do I exercise myself always to have": This phrase highlights Paul's active and continuous spiritual discipline. It is not passive virtue but an intentional, consistent striving. The term "exercise myself" is powerful, pointing to the diligent practice, akin to an athlete training for a race, emphasizing personal responsibility and persistent effort in maintaining moral integrity.
• "a conscience void of offence": This describes the specific goal of Paul's discipline – a conscience that is clear, clean, and gives no cause for accusation, either from within (guilt) or from without (by causing others to stumble or taking offense). It speaks to inner moral purity and outer conduct that brings no reproach.
• "toward God, and toward men": This pivotal phrase captures the holistic nature of biblical morality and integrity. True righteousness, according to both Old and New Testaments, always involves one's relationship with God (worship, obedience, purity) and one's relationship with fellow human beings (justice, love, honesty, peace). Paul emphasizes that his moral striving is comprehensive, covering all aspects of his life. This directly echoes the greatest commandments (loving God and neighbor) and refutes any suggestion that his Christian faith alienates him from either.

Acts 24 16 Bonus section

• Polemics Against Contemporary Beliefs: In this statement, Paul implicitly confronts the Roman legal system's concern for public order and the Jewish leaders' charges of heresy and sedition. While his accusers painted him as a disturber of the peace, Paul asserted that his core objective was precisely the opposite: to maintain peace both with God and men, consistent with true adherence to the Law and the Prophets. His conduct was not revolutionary in a destructive sense but deeply ethical, guided by conscience, in contrast to those who might manipulate legal or religious systems for personal gain or malice. This statement also stood in contrast to some pagan ethics that might have prioritized outward conformity or appeasement of deities without requiring an internal moral conscience or relational purity.
• Practical Implications for Believers: This verse calls believers to intentional, consistent discipline in their moral lives. It highlights that maintaining a clear conscience is an active pursuit, not a default state. It underscores the biblical emphasis on holistic living, where our relationship with God cannot be divorced from our relationships with others. Believers are exhorted to pursue integrity and blamelessness in all areas, striving to give no cause for accusation to either God or people.
• Role of the Holy Spirit: While not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the ability to "exercise oneself" and maintain such a conscience is empowered by the Holy Spirit (cf. Phil 2:13, Rom 8:4-5). It's not a self-achieved perfection but a Spirit-empowered striving for sanctification.
• Not a Claim of Perfection: Paul is not claiming sinless perfection, but rather a consistent and deliberate effort to walk blamelessly and to not intentionally cause offense. His pursuit reflects humility and dependence on God's grace for purification (1 Jn 1:9, Heb 9:14), even as he strives with diligence.

Acts 24 16 Commentary

Acts 24:16 encapsulates Paul’s earnest spiritual and moral commitment. His declaration of striving for a "conscience void of offence" is a powerful defense against the charges of lawbreaking and disorder leveled by his accusers. It's a statement of profound ethical purpose rooted deeply in his faith, demonstrating that his conversion to Christianity did not lead to moral abandonment but rather to an intensified pursuit of righteousness.

The word "exercise myself" (ἀσκῶ) is key, implying a vigorous and disciplined effort, akin to an athlete training rigorously. This wasn't a passive state Paul wished for, but an active pursuit he relentlessly engaged in. His aim was "always" to maintain this conscience, signifying an unbroken commitment throughout all circumstances, including his current trials.

The phrase "void of offence" highlights the aspiration for both internal purity and external blamelessness. Internally, it means a conscience that doesn't accuse him of sin or wrongdoing; externally, it means acting in a way that doesn't cause others to stumble, give offense, or bring valid accusation.

The dual orientation "toward God, and toward men" emphasizes the completeness of his moral aspiration. Vertically, he sought to honor God in all thoughts and deeds, maintaining faithfulness to divine truth. Horizontally, he aimed to live justly and peacefully with everyone, free from malice, deceit, or conflict of his own making. This comprehensive ethical commitment affirmed his integrity as a believer, showing that genuine faith leads to a life characterized by consistent moral uprightness and peaceable conduct towards both divine and human relationships. Paul's integrity served as a testimony to the transformative power of the Gospel and provided a contrast to the false accusations made against him.