Acts 24:16

Acts 24:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
• New International Version (NIV)So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Context of Acts 24:16

14But I confess this to you, that according to the Way, which they call a [divisive and heretical] sect, I do worship and serve the God of our fathers, [confidently] believing everything that is in accordance with the Law [of Moses] and that is written in the Prophets; 15having [the same] hope in God which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of [the dead], both of the righteous and of the wicked. In view of this, I also do my best and strive always to have a clear conscience before God and before men. 17Now after several years I came [to Jerusalem] to bring to my people charitable contributions and offerings. 18They found me in the temple presenting these offerings, after I had undergone [the rites of] purification, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor],

Acts 24:16 word by word

ἐν τούτῳ καὶ αὐτὸς ἀσκῶ ἀπρόσκοπον συνείδησιν ἔχειν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν καὶ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους διὰ παντός.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• hereinοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• do I exerciseἀσκέωaskeō · to striveG778
• myselfαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• to haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• alwaysδιαπαντόςdiapantos · alwaysG1275
• a conscienceσυνείδησιςsuneidēsis · conscienceG4893
• void of offenceἀπρόσκοποςaproskopos · not giving offenceG677
• towardπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444

Cross-references for Acts 24:16

• Acts 23:1Then Paul, looking intently at the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), said, “Kinsmen, I have lived my life before God with a perfectly good conscience until this very day.”
• Romans 2:15They show that the essential requirements of the Law are written in their hearts; and their conscience [their sense of right and wrong, their moral choices] bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or perhaps defending them
• Romans 9:1I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me [enlightened and prompted] by the Holy Spirit,
• 1 Corinthians 4:4I am aware of nothing against myself and I feel blameless, but I am not by this acquitted [before God]. It is the Lord who judges me.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12This is our [reason for] proud confidence: our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [in general], and especially toward you, with pure motives and godly sincerity, not in human wisdom, but in the grace of God [that is, His gracious lovingkindness that leads people to Christ and spiritual maturity].
• 2 Corinthians 4:2But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and so is God, how unworldly and just and blameless was our behavior toward you who believe [in our Lord Jesus Christ].
• 1 Timothy 1:5But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
• 1 Timothy 3:9but upholding and fully understanding the mystery [that is, the true doctrine] of the [Christian] faith with a clear conscience [resulting from behavior consistent with spiritual maturity].
• 2 Timothy 1:3I thank God, whom I worship and serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,
• Hebrews 9:14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God?
• Hebrews 10:22let us approach [God] with a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
• Hebrews 13:18Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, seeking to conduct ourselves honorably [that is, with moral courage and personal integrity] in all things.
• 1 Peter 2:19For this finds favor, if a person endures the sorrow of suffering unjustly because of an awareness of [the will of] God.
• 1 Peter 3:16And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words].

Commentaries on Acts 24:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16And 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16And herein - In this, or for this purpose. Do I exercise myself - ̓͂ askōI 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 Acts 26:9; compare Philemon 3:5-6. To have always a conscience … - To do what is right, so that my conscience shall never reproach me. Void of offence - ̓́…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-21Verses 10-21 Paul gives a just account of himself, which clears him from crime, and likewise shows the true reason of the violence against him. Let us never be driven from any good way by its having an ill name. It is very comfortable, in worshipping God, to look to him as the God of our fathers, and to set up no other rule of faith or practice but the Scriptures. This shows there will be a resurrection to a final judgment. Prophets and their doctrines…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Paul emphasized that he had acted with a clear conscience (see 20:27, 33; 23:1; 1 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 4:2; see also 2 Timothy 1:3). He remained true to his Jewish heritage and did not fear God's judgment (Acts 24:14, 15).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. 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; 2Co 1:12; 2:17, &c.; that is, "These are the great principles of my life and conduct--how different from turbulence and sectarianism!"Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 24:16

• Conscience
• Defense
• Heresy
• Holiness
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Obedience
• Readings, Select
• Self-Defense
• Sinlessness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Assent
• Clemency
• Conscience
• Exercise
• Hear
• Inform
• James
• Jewess

Commentaries on Acts 24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings