And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offense toward God, and toward men.
Acts 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
I strive always
Paul's use of "strive" indicates a continuous and diligent effort. This reflects the Christian call to perseverance and discipline in the faith, as seen in Philippians 3:14, where Paul speaks of pressing on toward the goal. The Greek word used here, "askeo," implies a rigorous training or exercise, akin to an athlete's dedication, highlighting the seriousness with which Paul approaches his spiritual life.
to maintain a clear conscience
A clear conscience is a recurring theme in Paul's writings, emphasizing moral integrity and accountability before God. In 1 Timothy 1:5, Paul speaks of love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. The conscience acts as an internal witness to one's actions, and maintaining it clear is crucial for a life that honors God. This concept is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, where the heart and mind are seen as the seat of moral decision-making.
before God and man.
Paul's commitment to a clear conscience extends both vertically (before God) and horizontally (before man). This dual accountability reflects the Great Commandment to love God and love one's neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). It underscores the holistic nature of Christian ethics, where one's relationship with God is inseparable from one's conduct towards others. This principle is evident in Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, where internal purity and external actions are both emphasized.
• Paul’s “hope” is the resurrection he has just affirmed (Acts 24:15). Because “we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19), everything that follows is rooted in certainty, not wishful thinking.
• The same forward-looking confidence appears in “the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). This future reality shapes present behavior.
• “Strive” shows deliberate exertion, echoing “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).
• The believer’s effort is not to earn salvation but to live consistently with it, much like an athlete who runs “in such a way as to take the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24).
• 2 Timothy 2:15 urges the same diligence: “Make every effort to present yourself approved to God.”
• Integrity is not seasonal. Colossians 3:17 calls us to do “whatever you do…in the name of the Lord Jesus,” covering the whole day, every day.
• Paul’s consistency mirrors “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)—an ongoing posture, not a momentary burst.
• Maintaining implies guarding what has been gained. Proverbs 4:23 teaches, “Guard your heart with all diligence.”
• Jude 21 adds, “Keep yourselves in the love of God,” underscoring active, continual vigilance.
• A clear conscience is freedom from unconfessed sin and hypocrisy. Hebrews 9:14 says the blood of Christ “purifies our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
• “The goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).
• Such inner clarity produces outer credibility (1 Timothy 3:9).
• God sees everything: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight” (Hebrews 4:13).
• Final accountability motivates present honesty: “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
• David’s prayer—“Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23)—models this God-ward accountability.
• Integrity must also be evident horizontally: “We are taking pains to do what is right, not only before the Lord but also before men” (2 Corinthians 8:21).
• Romans 12:17-18 cautions believers to “live at peace with everyone” and “be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.”
• Such visible righteousness “silences the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:12) and adorns the gospel.
Grounded in the sure hope of resurrection, Paul commits to relentless, lifelong effort to guard a conscience washed by Christ’s blood. He keeps it clean in the sight of the Lord who knows the heart and in the sight of people who watch his life. Acts 24:16 therefore calls every believer to hopeful motivation, disciplined effort, and transparent integrity—upward toward God and outward toward humanity.
(16) And herein do I exercise myself . . .--The "herein" seems equivalent to "in this belief." Because he held that doctrine of a resurrection as a stern and solemn reality, the one law of his life was to keep his conscience clear from wilful sin. (See Note on Acts 23:1.) The words must have been almost as bitter to Felix as to Ananias; but he has, at all events, the decency to listen in silence.Verse 16. - Herein... also for and hereby, A.V. and T.R.; to have a conscience... always for to have always, etc., A.V.; and men for and toward men, A.V. (For the sentiment, comp. Acts 23:1.) Herein (ἐν τόυτῳ); i.e. on this account, under these circumstances supplying the ground and cause of my action (comp. John 16:30). So, too, Matthew 6:7, Ἐν τῇ πολυλογίᾳ αὐτῶν means "On account of their much speaking." I exercise myself; ἀσκῶ, here only in the New Testament, but frequent in medical writers for "to practice" the medical art.