Acts 24:14-16 - Taking pains to have a clear conscience

24:14

We see hear that the “Nazarene sect” term used earlier was indeed referring to the Christians, or followers of “the Way”, as Paul refers to it here, and is a term used elsewhere in Acts. Paul also makes it clear that he worships the “God of our ancestors”, the gospel is not anti-Jewish, but is a fulfilment of the Law. All the Law and the prophets in the Old Testament point forward to Christ.

24:15,16

The Jews (excluding the Sadducees) believed in a final judgement and a resurrection of the dead. Indeed, foundational to the gospel is belief in a final judgement. It is because there is a final judgement that it is essential that we believe in Christ, otherwise our chances are bleak on that day, to say the least. So Paul strove to have a clear conscience before both God and man. Ie Paul was not someone who lived his life oblivious to what God thought, nor even to what men thought. Of course, God’s “opinion” came first, but going to the temple in the first place was done in order that Jewish Christians would not misunderstand him.