Note 1 at Acts 23:1: What a statement! Paul is saying that his actions had not violated his conscience right up until that day. That doesn't mean that he was claiming to have never sinned, but it is to be understood that he was claiming that his actions had been motivated by a pure heart. That would be quite a claim for anyone but it is especially interesting that the man who is saying this, persecuted Christians to the death (Acts 22:4). This shows us that he was sincere but genuinely deceived in his persecution of Christianity.

This also illustrates how the conscience cannot be trusted. Paul speaks of Christians following the leading of their conscience in a positive way (Rom. 13:5; 1 Cor. 8:7-12; 10:25-29: 2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 3:9; 2 Tim. 1:3; Heb. 9:9, 14; 10:2, 22; 13:8; 1 Pet. 2:19, 3:16, 21), yet he also reveals that the conscience can be corrupted or ignored (2 Tim. 4:2; Ti. 1:15). Paul's own life is a perfect example of how a person can never violate their conscience and yet be totally wrong. We need to let God's Word be the final authority.