Acts 23:1
New International Version
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”

New Living Translation
Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”

English Standard Version
And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”

Berean Standard Bible
Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

Berean Literal Bible
And having looked intently at the Council, Paul said, "Men, brothers, I have lived as a citizen in all good conscience to God unto this day."

King James Bible
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

New King James Version
Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

New American Standard Bible
Now looking intently at the Council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day.”

NASB 1995
Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.”

NASB 1977
And Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Paul, looking intently at the Sanhedrin, said, “Brothers, I have lived my life in all good conscience before God up to this day.”

Amplified Bible
Then 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.”

Christian Standard Bible
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience to this day.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience until this day.”

American Standard Version
And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Paulus gazed at The Assembly and he said, “Men, brothers: in all good conscience I have lived before God, until today.”

Contemporary English Version
Paul looked straight at the council members and said, "My friends, to this day I have served God with a clear conscience!"

Douay-Rheims Bible
AND Paul looking upon the council, said: Men, brethren, I have conversed with all good conscience before God until this present day.

English Revised Version
And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Paul stared at the Jewish council and said, "Brothers, my relationship with God has always given me a perfectly clear conscience."

Good News Translation
Paul looked straight at the Council and said, "My fellow Israelites! My conscience is perfectly clear about the way in which I have lived before God to this very day."

International Standard Version
Paul looked straight at the Council and said, "Brothers, with a clear conscience I have done my duty before God up to this very day."

Literal Standard Version
And Paul having earnestly beheld the Sanhedrin, said, “Men, brothers, I have lived to God in all good conscience to this day”;

Majority Standard Bible
Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

New American Bible
Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have conducted myself with a perfectly clear conscience before God to this day.”

NET Bible
Paul looked directly at the council and said, "Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God to this day."

New Revised Standard Version
While Paul was looking intently at the council he said, “Brothers, up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God.”

New Heart English Bible
Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, "Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men, brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

Weymouth New Testament
Then Paul, fixing a steady gaze on the Sanhedrin, said, "Brethren, it is with a perfectly clear conscience that I have discharged my duties before God up to this day."

World English Bible
Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Paul having earnestly beheld the sanhedrim, said, 'Men, brethren, I in all good conscience have lived to God unto this day;'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
1 Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.” 2At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be subject to the fire of hell.

Acts 22:5
as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.

Acts 22:30
The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

Acts 23:6
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial."

Acts 23:15
Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way."

Acts 23:20
He answered, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

Acts 23:28
and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.


Treasury of Scripture

And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

earnestly.

Acts 23:6
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Acts 6:15
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Acts 22:5
As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

Men.

Acts 22:1
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

I have.

Acts 24:16
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

1 Corinthians 4:4
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

2 Corinthians 1:12
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

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Beheld Beholding Clear Conscience Council Discharged Duties Earnestly Eyes Fixing Fulfilled Gaze Good Intently Life Paul Perfectly Sanhedrim Sanhedrin Steadfastly Steady Stedfastly Upright Walked
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Beheld Beholding Clear Conscience Council Discharged Duties Earnestly Eyes Fixing Fulfilled Gaze Good Intently Life Paul Perfectly Sanhedrim Sanhedrin Steadfastly Steady Stedfastly Upright Walked
Acts 23
1. As Paul pleads his cause,
2. Ananias commands them to strike him.
7. Dissension among his accusers.
11. God encourages him.
14. The Jews' vow to kill Paul,
20. is declared unto the chief captain.
27. He sends him to Felix the governor.














XXIII.

(1) And Paul, earnestly beholding the council.--We note once more the characteristic word for the eager anxious gaze with which St. Paul scanned the assembly. He had not seen it since he had stood there among Stephen's accusers, a quarter of a century ago. Many changes, of course, had come about in that interval, but some of the faces were probably the same; and at all events the general aspect of the Gazith, or Hall of Meeting, on the south side of the Temple, with its circular benches must have remained the same.

I have lived in all good conscience . . .--The verb for "I have lived" means literally, I have used my citizenship. It had ceased, however, to have this sharply defined meaning (see Note on the kindred substantive in Philippians 3:20), and had come to be used of the whole course of a man's social conduct. Perhaps My mode of life has been in all good conscience, would be the nearest English equivalent. The reference to "conscience" may be noted as eminently characteristic of St. Paul. So we find him saying of himself that he had all his life served God with "a pure conscience" (2Timothy 1:3); that a "good conscience" is the end of the commandment (1Timothy 1:5); or, again, recognising the power of conscience even among the heathen (Romans 2:15). In the phrase "I know nothing by myself," i.e., "I am conscious of no fault" (see Note on 1Corinthians 4:4), we have a like reference to its authority. Comp. also Acts 24:16; Romans 13:5; 1Corinthians 10:25. And in all these passages he assigns to conscience its true functions with an exact precision. It is not an infallible guide and requires illumination, and therefore each man needs to pray for light, but it is never right to act against its dictates, and that which is objectively the better course is subjectively the worse, unless the man in his heart believes it to be the better. . . .

Verse 1. - Looking steadfastly on for earnestly beholding, A.V.; brethren for men and brethren, A.V.; I have lived before God, etc., for I have lived, etc., before God, A.V. Looking steadfastly; ἀτενίσας, as in Acts 1:10; Acts 3:4, 12; Acts 6:15; Acts 7:55; Acts 10:4; Acts 11:6; Acts 13:9; Acts 14:9. It governs a dative here, as in Acts 3:12; Acts 10:1; Acts 14:9; Luke 4:20; Luke 22:56; elsewhere it is followed by εἰς. Brethren. He emits here the "fathers" which he added in Acts 22:1. If there is any special significance in the omission, it may be that he meant now to assume a less apologetic tone, and to speak as an equal to equals. Howson and Lewin think that he spoke as being, or having been, himself a member of the Sanhedrim. But he may have meant merely a friendly address to his countrymen. I have lived, etc. πεπολέτευμαι τῷ Θεῷ); comp. Philippians 3:20; I have had my conversation (vitam degi) unto God, or, for God, i.e. according to the will of God, with a view to God as the end of all my actions. So Josephus ('De Maccabeis,' sect. 4) says that Antiochus Epiphanes made a law that all Jews should be put to death οἵτινες φάνριεν τῷ πατοίω νόμω πολιτευόμενοι "who were seen to live according to the Law of their fathers." And so in 2 Macc. 6:1 it is said that he sent to compel the Jews to forsake the Law of their fathers - καὶ τοῖ τοῦ Θεοῦ νόμοις μὴ πολιτεύεσθαι ( ανδ not live agreeably to the laws of God. And once more, in 3Macc. 3:3, 4 the Jews are said to fear God and to be τῷ τούτου νόμῳ πολιτευόμενοι, living according to his Law. Here, then, πολιτεύεσθι τῷ Θεῷ means to live in obedience to God. St. Paul boldly asserts his undeviating compliance with the Law of God, as a good and consistent Jew (Philippians 3:6).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Paul
Παῦλος (Paulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.

looked directly
Ἀτενίσας (Atenisas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 816: To direct my gaze, look steadily. From a compound of a and teino; to gaze intently.

at the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Sanhedrin
συνεδρίῳ (synedriō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4892: A council, tribunal; the Sanhedrin, the meeting place of the Sanhedrin.

[and] said,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Brothers,
ἀδελφοί (adelphoi)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

have conducted myself
πεπολίτευμαι (pepoliteumai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4176: To live the life of a citizen, live. Middle voice of a derivative of polites; to behave as a citizen.

before God
Θεῷ (Theō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

in all
πάσῃ (pasē)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

good
ἀγαθῇ (agathē)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 18: A primary word; 'good'.

conscience
συνειδήσει (syneidēsei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4893: The conscience, a persisting notion. From a prolonged form of suneido; co-perception, i.e. Moral consciousness.

to
ἄχρι (achri)
Preposition
Strong's 891: As far as, up to, until, during. Or achris akh'-rece; akin to akron; until or up to.

this
ταύτης (tautēs)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

day.”
ἡμέρας (hēmeras)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.


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Acts 22:30
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