Paragraph 23:1–3

23:1a

Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin: The Greek word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as looked directly means “looked intently” or “stared.” Paul briefly studied the men of the Sanhedrin as he looked at them. He was probably trying to guess how they felt about him. When he looked intently at them here, he probably was not challenging them or showing he did not respect them. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Paul looked steadily at the Sanhedrin (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Paul looked at the Jewish council (New Century Version)

23:1b

Brothers: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as Brothers is literally “Men, brothers.” The address is a polite way to begin speaking to the men of the Sanhedrin. The address Brothers indicates that Paul was also a Jew. Paul did not use “and fathers” here. That probably indicates that Paul presented himself as being equal to them.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to Paul’s actual brothers. If that is true in your language, use whatever terms are natural for addressing people from the same ethnic group, who are equal in social status. For example:

You men who are Israelites as I am
-or-
My relatives!
-or-
My fellow Israelites (Good News Translation)

I have conducted myself before God: This clause in Greek is literally “I have lived before God.” Other ways to translate this clause are:

I have lived among others as God wants me to
-or-
I have lived before God (Revised Standard Version)

23:1c

in all good conscience: The word conscience refers to the part of a person that helps him know what is right and what is wrong to think or do. A person’s conscience causes him to feel ashamed or guilty when he does something wrong. It also makes him feel good when he does what is right. Paul knows that his past deeds were good. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

with my conscience being good about what I have done
-or-
my mind/thoughts are clean
-or-
I have been doing is what I thought was good

See how you translated conscience in 1 Corinthians 8:7, 1 Timothy 1:5, or Titus 1:15.

to this day: This phrase refers to the whole time that Paul lived. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

all my life
-or-
always (New Living Translation (2004))

Do not translate in a way that would indicate or imply that after this time Paul would do bad things and therefore stop living with a good conscience.

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