John Calvin 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)

Looking earnestly. Paul begins with the testimony of a good conscience, so that the entire multitude might understand that he is unjustly charged with such a heinous offense, as if he had intended to overthrow the worship of God. Indeed, a man may offend out of ignorance, who would not otherwise be a despiser of either God or religion. But Paul, at first, intended with this defense only to soothe their irritated minds, so that he might be better heard. For it would have been in vain for him to defend himself as long as that opinion remained in the minds of the priests: that he was a wicked apostate.

Therefore, before he addresses the main issue, he clears himself of that accusation, not only so that he might gain favor through his desire to live godly, but also so that he might prevent false accusations, or at least so that he might refute unjust prejudices that had been formed against him, with which he saw the whole multitude was infected and corrupted.

We do not know what else he intended to say. Nevertheless, this preface teaches that no one can rightly handle the doctrine of godliness unless the fear of God reigns and holds primary influence in him. And now, although he does not give the priests as honorable a title here as he did a little earlier, when he stood on the steps of the fortress, yet he calls them brethren, giving them that honor, not because they deserve it, but so that he may testify that he is not the cause of the broken friendship.