Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 23:1

"And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day." — Acts 23:1 (ASV)

And Paul, earnestly gazing at 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 occurred in that interval, but some of the faces were probably the same; and in any case, 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 related noun in Philippians 3:20), and had come to describe 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 (2 Timothy 1:3); that a good conscience is the end of the commandment (1 Timothy 1:5); or, again, recognizing the power of conscience even among the Gentiles (Romans 2:15). In the phrase I know nothing by myself, i.e., “I am conscious of no fault” (see Note on 1 Corinthians 4:4), we have a similar reference to its authority. Compare also Acts 24:16, Romans 13:5, and 1 Corinthians 10:25.

In all these passages, he assigns to conscience its true functions with exact precision. It is not an infallible guide and requires illumination; therefore, each person needs to pray for light. However, it is never right to act against its dictates. Indeed, what is objectively the better course becomes subjectively the worse, unless the person in their heart believes it to be the better.