Paul,looking intentlyat the Council,said,"Brethren,I have lived my lifewith a perfectlygoodconsciencebefore Godup to thisday."
The wickedfleewhen nooneis pursuing,But the righteousare boldas a lion.
"But I sayto you that everyonewho is angrywith his brothershall be guiltybefore the court;and whoeversaysto his brother,You good-for-nothing,'shall be guiltybefore the supreme court;and whoeversays,'You fool,'shall be guilty[enough to go] into the fieryhell.
"Brethrenand fathers,hearmy defensewhich I now[offer] to you."
But on the next day,wishingto knowfor certainwhyhe had been accusedby the Jews,he releasedhim and orderedthe chief priestsand allthe Councilto assemble,and broughtPauldownand sethim beforethem.
as alsothe high priestand allthe Council of the elderscan testify.From them I alsoreceivedlettersto the brethren,and startedoff for Damascusin order to bringeventhosewho were thereto Jerusalemas prisonersto be punished.
"Nowtherefore,you and the Councilnotifythe commanderto bring him downto you, as thoughyou were goingto determinehis caseby a more thorough investigation;and we for our part are readyto slayhim beforehe comes near[the place]."
And he said,"The Jewshave agreedto askyou to bringPauldowntomorrowto the Council,as thoughthey were goingto inquiresomewhatmore thoroughlyabouthim.
"And wantingto ascertainthe chargefor whichthey were accusinghim, I brought him downto their Council;
But perceivingthat onegroupwere Sadduceesand the otherPharisees,Paul[began] cryingout in the Council,"Brethren,I ama Pharisee,a sonof Pharisees;I am on trialfor the hopeand resurrectionof the dead!"
"In view of this,I alsodo my bestto maintainalwaysa blamelessconscience[both] beforeGodand before men.
And fixing their gazeon him, allwho were sittingin the Councilsawhis facelikethe faceof an angel.
For I am consciousof nothingagainst myself,yetI am not by thisacquitted;but the one who examinesme is the Lord.
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.
but we have renouncedthe things hiddenbecause of shame,not walkingin craftinessoradulteratingthe wordof God,but by the manifestationof truthcommendingourselvesto everyman'sconsciencein the sightof God.
I thankGod,whomI servewith a clearconsciencethe waymy forefathersdid, as I constantlyrememberyou in my prayersnightand day,
Prayfor us, for we are surethat we havea goodconscience,desiringto conductourselves honorablyin all things.
and keepa goodconsciencesothat in the thing in whichyou are slandered,thosewho revileyour goodbehaviorin Christwill be put to shame.
