English Standard Version
Acts 24:16
16So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.
Context of Acts 24:16
14But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—
Read all of Acts 24Acts 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 23:1And looking intently at the council, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day."
- Romans 2:15They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
- Romans 9:1I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—
- 1 Corinthians 4:4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
- 2 Corinthians 4:2But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
- 1 Timothy 1:5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
- 1 Timothy 3:9They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
- 2 Timothy 1:3I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
- Hebrews 9:14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
- Hebrews 10:22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- Hebrews 13:18Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
- 1 Peter 2:19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
- 1 Peter 3:16having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries