This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
Parallel translations
- WEB Herein I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.
- KJV And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
- BSB In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
- NASB In view of this I also do my best to maintain a blameless conscience both before God and before other people, always.
- NLT Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul says that because of this hope he always strives to keep a clear conscience before God and people. His belief in resurrection and judgment shapes how he lives.
Overview
The certainty of resurrection and coming judgment motivates Paul to pursue blameless conduct toward God and others. A clear conscience is the fruit of faith, not its ground, for justification rests on Christ alone. Paul's life of integrity stands in stark contrast to the dishonesty of his accusers and commends the genuineness of his faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Acts 23:1Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”
- 1 Tim 1:5but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith;
- 2 Cor 4:2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- Heb 10:22let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,
- Rom 2:15in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)
- 1 Pet 3:21This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you — not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- 2 Cor 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
- Titus 1:15To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
- 2 Tim 1:3I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day
- 1 Cor 4:4For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.
- Heb 13:18Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.
- Heb 9:14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
- Titus 2:11–13For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
- 1 Pet 2:19For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.
- 1 Pet 3:16having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.
- 1 Th 2:10You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.
- 1 Tim 1:19holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith;
- 1 Tim 3:9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
- Rom 9:1I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 24:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.