A Clear Conscience Saves You-Acts 24

Acts of the Apostles, New Testament, Sermons

“So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man” (Ac 24:16). “…he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. …Paul talked about righteousness, self–control and the judgment to come…” (Ac 24:24-25).

  1. The prosecution (24:1-9). The accusation of the Jews.
    1. How many people are named Ananias in Acts (Ac 24:1; 5:1; 9:10)?
    2. How and why did Tertullus flatter Governor Felix (Ac 24:1-4)?
    3. What charges did he accuse Paul of (Ac 24:5-6, 9; 21:28-29)?
    4. Would Felix be able to “learn the truth about all these charges” (Ac 24:8-9)?
  2. The defense (24:10-21): Paul refutes their accusations and defends himself. 
    1. How does Paul respond to the accusations made against him (Ac 24:10-13)?
    2. What does he say about his beliefs (Ac 24:14) and hope (Ac 24:15)?
    3. Why does Paul always strive to keep a clear conscience and to live with integrity (Ac 24:16; 23:1; Rom 2:15; 9:1; 13:5; 1 Cor 8:7, 10, 12; 10:25, 27, 28, 29; 2 Cor 1:12; 4:2; 5:11)?
    4. What was Paul’s main motive and purpose for going to Jerusalem (Ac 24:17)? What was he doing (Ac 24:18)?
    5. Who followed Paul to Jerusalem (Ac 24:19; 21:27)? What should the Jews present testify (Ac 24:20)? Did they (Ac 24:11-12)?
    6. What does Paul say was the reason for his arrest (Ac 24:21; 23:6)?
  3. The aftermath (24:22-27).
    1. Instead of releasing him since there are no offences against Rome, why did Felix respond to Paul’s defense the way he did (Ac 24:22-23, 27)?
    2. Why would a defendant awaiting trial speak to his judge about faith in Christ, righteousness, self–control, and the coming judgment (Ac 24:24-25a)? Why was Felix afraid (Ac 24:25b)? What was Felix hoping to receive from Paul (Ac 24:26)?
  • What can we learn from Paul’s conduct and response in the face of false accusations and unjust imprisonment?
  • How does Paul’s faithfulness in sharing the gospel challenge us in our own circumstances and situations?
  • What insights do we gain about the role of civil authority and the tension between standing for truth and respecting the governing authorities from this passage?
  • How does God’s sovereignty and providence manifest in Paul’s situation, even when facing opposition and persecution?

A clear conscience under trial:

  1. Hears false accusations (Ac 24:1-9).
  2. Accusers without proof (Ac 24:10-13).
  3. Declares glorious hope (Ac 24:14-16).
  4. Knows his purpose (Ac 24:17).
  5. Accusers absent (Ac 24:18-20).
  6. The reason he’s on trial (Ac 24:21).
  7. Speaks on faith, righteousness, self–control and judgment (Ac 24:24-25).
  8. Kept in jail for 2 years without a charge (Ac 24:27).

Power couples:

  • Felix and Drusilla (Ac 24:24).
  • King Agrippa and Bernice (Ac 25:13, 23; 26:30).

Paul‘s trial before Felix (24:1-27) is an oratorical duel between 2 accomplished rhetoricians, Tertullus and Paul, offering samplings of forensic rhetoric. [Trial before Governor Felix. Appearing before Felix. Paul is tried by Felix.]

  1. The prosecution: The accusations of the Jews (24:1-9).
  2. The defense: Paul’s defense before Felix (24:10-21).
    1. Respectful opening statement (24:10-13).
    2. Affirms his adherence to the Jewish faith (24:14).
    3. Assertion of his belief in the resurrection of the dead (24:15).
    4. Strives to have a clear conscience before God and men (24:16).
    5. Explains the true reason for his presence in Jerusalem (24:17).
    6. Denies the charges of stirring up riots and being a troublemaker (24:12-13, 18-19).  
  3. The aftermath: (22:22-27):
    1. Case adjourned (24:22-23). Felix postpones the case.
    2. Imprisoned in Caesarea (24:24-27). Challenges Felix and Drusilla personally.
      1. Conversations with Paul about faith in Christ (24:24-26).
      2. Felix’s motives and attempt to obtain a bribe from Paul (24:26-27).
      3. Paul’s continued imprisonment under Felix’s authority (24:27).
The proper order of legal affairs following Roman procedure as Luke correctly reports:
  1. The prosecution comes before the governor and reports its case (Ac 24:1).
  2. The accuser is then summoned (Ac 24:2a).
  3. The prosecution makes its accusations (Ac 24:5-9). The trial was open to the public with the accusatorial, non-inquisitional, method of proceedings, where the accuser simply alleges “facts” against the accused, without necessarily producing any hard evidence, or even eyewitnesses. The burden of proof lay on the accuser in such trials.
  4. The defendant must respond (Ac 24:10-21).
  5. The judge must decide the issue (Ac 24:22-23). He could reach an immediate decision, or postpone matters indefinitely. [The famous historian Polybius was under arrest for 15 years under suspicion without trial.]
A clear conscience [Conscience Quotes]:
  1. “A good conscience is a continual Christmas.” Benjamin Franklin.
  2. “Keep your conscience clear, then never be afraid of any accusation.” John Wesley.
  3. “A good character when established is not easily overthrown, but a bad conscience is a constant terror.” Thomas à Kempis.
  4. “Let your conscience be your guide.” – Jiminy Cricket (from Disney’s Pinocchio).
  5. “A clear conscience is the sure sign of a bad memory.” Mark Twain.
  6. “The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves—say rather, loved in spite of ourselves; this conviction the good man keeps always in his conscience.” Victor Hugo.
  7. “Conscience is the voice of God in the soul.” James Madison.
  8. “There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience.” French Proverb.
  9. “Keep thy conscience as the noonday; act in the light of it, and enjoy the sunbeam.” Charles Spurgeon.
  10. “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” – Michel de Montaigne
  11. “The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” Socrates.
  12. “Do what is right, not what is easy or expedient.” Max Lucado.
  13. “Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.” Will Rogers.
  14. “Conscience is the window of our spirit, evil is the curtain.” Douglas Horton.
  15. “A good character, when carried into action, is never a hindrance.” Thomas à Kempis.
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