I thankGod,whomI servewith a clearconsciencethe waymy forefathersdid, as I constantlyrememberyou in my prayersnightand day,
JesusChrist[is] the sameyesterdayand todayand forever.
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;
keepingfaithand a goodconscience,whichsomehave rejectedand suffered shipwreckin regardto their faith.
But the goalof our instructionis lovefrom a pureheartand a goodconscienceand a sincerefaith.
"In view of this,I alsodo my bestto maintainalwaysa blamelessconscience[both] beforeGodand before men.
"I ama Jew,bornin Tarsusof Cilicia,but broughtup in thiscity,educatedunderGamaliel,strictlyaccordingto the lawof our fathers,beingzealousfor Godjustas you allare today.
and that from childhoodyou have knownthe sacredwritingswhich are ableto give you the wisdomthat leadsto salvationthroughfaithwhich is in ChristJesus.
For I am mindfulof the sincerefaithwithinyou, whichfirstdweltin your grandmotherLoisand your motherEunice,and I am surethat [it is] in you as well.
as we nightand daykeep prayingmost earnestlythat we may seeyour face,and may completewhat is lackingin your faith?
do not ceasegiving thanksfor you, while makingmention[of you] in my prayers;
and I was advancingin Judaismbeyondmanyof my contemporariesamongmy countrymen,beingmore extremelyzealousfor my ancestraltraditions.
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.
I am tellingthe truthin Christ,I am not lying,my consciencetestifieswith me in the HolySpirit,
"For thisvery nightan angelof the Godto whomI belongand whomI servestood beforeme,
"So then,allJewsknowmy manner of lifefrom my youthup, which from the beginningwas spentamongmy [own] nationand at Jerusalem;
and then as a widowto the ageof eighty-four.She neverleftthe temple,servingnightand daywith fastingsand prayers.
"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.
Nowshe who is a widowindeedand who has been left alone,has fixed her hopeon Godand continuesin entreatiesand prayersnightand day.