I thankGod,whomI servewith a clearconsciencethe waymy forefathersdid, as I constantlyrememberyou in my prayersnightand day,
and then as a widowto the ageof eighty-four.She neverleftthe temple,servingnightand daywith fastingsand prayers.
"I ama Jew,bornin Tarsusof Cilicia,but broughtup in thiscity,educatedunderGamaliel,strictlyaccordingto the lawof our fathers,beingzealousfor Godjustas you allare today.
Paul,looking intentlyat the Council,said,"Brethren,I have lived my lifewith a perfectlygoodconsciencebefore Godup to thisday."
"But thisI admitto you, that accordingto the Waywhichthey calla sectI do servethe Godof our fathers,believingeverythingthat is in accordancewith the Lawand that is writtenin the Prophets;
"In view of this,I alsodo my bestto maintainalwaysa blamelessconscience[both] beforeGodand before men.
"So then,allJewsknowmy manner of lifefrom my youthup, which from the beginningwas spentamongmy [own] nationand at Jerusalem;
"For thisvery nightan angelof the Godto whomI belongand whomI servestood beforeme,
I am tellingthe truthin Christ,I am not lying,my consciencetestifieswith me in the HolySpirit,
For our proud confidenceis this:the testimonyof our conscience,that in holinessand godlysincerity,not in fleshlywisdombut in the graceof God,we have conductedourselves in the world,and especiallytowardyou.
and I was advancingin Judaismbeyondmanyof my contemporariesamongmy countrymen,beingmore extremelyzealousfor my ancestraltraditions.
do not ceasegiving thanksfor you, while makingmention[of you] in my prayers;
as we nightand daykeep prayingmost earnestlythat we may seeyour face,and may completewhat is lackingin your faith?
keepingfaithand a goodconscience,whichsomehave rejectedand suffered shipwreckin regardto their faith.
But the goalof our instructionis lovefrom a pureheartand a goodconscienceand a sincerefaith.
Nowshe who is a widowindeedand who has been left alone,has fixed her hopeon Godand continuesin entreatiesand prayersnightand day.
For I am mindfulof the sincerefaithwithinyou, whichfirstdweltin your grandmotherLoisand your motherEunice,and I am surethat [it is] in you as well.
and that from childhoodyou have knownthe sacredwritingswhich are ableto give you the wisdomthat leadsto salvationthroughfaithwhich is in ChristJesus.
JesusChrist[is] the sameyesterdayand todayand forever.
"Moreover,as for me, farbe it from me that I should sinagainst the LORDby ceasingto prayfor you; but I will instructyou in the goodand rightway.