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.
• 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.
• 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

14However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. 17“After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.

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 23:1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”
• Romans 2:15They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)
• Romans 9:1I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—
• 1 Corinthians 4:4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
• 1 Timothy 1:5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
• 1 Timothy 3:9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
• 2 Timothy 1:3I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
• Hebrews 9:14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
• Hebrews 10:22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
• Hebrews 13:18Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
• 1 Peter 2:19For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
• 1 Peter 3:16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

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