Clear Conscience

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

CLEAR CONSCIENCE

Acts 24:10-16

10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

NIV

Now it is Paul's turn to tell his story, the truth of the matter. Although he acknowledges that Felix has been a judge over this nation for many years, he does not attempt to inflate his ego with eloquent words. What Paul does do is simply relate what he believes and what he strives to do. He makes it clear that he worships the same God as all Jews worship, the God of their fathers, however he also admits he does so as a follower of the Way, which was the name used to define those who call themselves Christians. Paul makes it clear he believes or agrees with the Law and what the Prophets had written. This of course is his defense for believing in Jesus Christ, as the Prophets wrote about him and the whole purpose of the Law was to prove men needed Jesus Christ because they could not be righteous by keeping the Law perfectly. There is so much here for us to consider as a life lesson, but of course most of what Paul says here is already an integral part of our lives as believers. But the one statement he makes about striving to always keep his conscience clear before God and man could very well serve as a very important facet of our lives that we might need to improve on. Certainly there should be no problem about having a clear conscience before man, as that would imply our truthfulness as well as our care in not offending others. Yet Paul certainly seemed to offend many Jews by expressing the truth about Jesus Christ. So perhaps having a clear conscience before man, would mean telling them about Jesus. But to have a clear conscience before God is entirely a different thing. What is required to have a clear conscience before God? Certainly that would include our attitudes toward other men. Paul did not hate, or was even angry about his accusers. He was not hurt by what they said about him, or that they were upset and angry about what he said or did. His mission was to share the gospel message with them in love and that was it. His attitude toward all men was that of love for them. He endured hardship at their hands, but he continued to respond with concern about their salvation. His conscience was clear before God. Although Paul was not without sin, he still was able to have a clear conscience because he knew the power of prayer, and the grace of God. He knew the forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. This is something his accusers could not comprehend as they were still trying to find righteousness in adherence to the Law. We have the same opportunity as Paul had, and we can have that clear conscience both before man and before God.