Act 24:14 | RWP | e4.org | I confess ( ομολογω ). The only charge left was that of being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. This Paul frankly confesses is true. He uses the word in its full sense. He is "guilty" of that. After the Way ( κατα την οδον ). This word Paul had already applied to Christianity ( ). He prefers it to "sect" ( αιρεσιν which means a choosing, then a division). Paul claims Christianity to be the real (whole, catholic) Judaism, not a "sect" of it. But he will show that Christianity is not a deviation from Judaism, but the fulfilment of it (Page) as he has already shown in ; . So serve I the God of our fathers ( ουτως λατρευω τω πατρωιω θεω ). Paul has not stretched the truth at all. He has confirmed the claim made before the Sanhedrin that he is a spiritual Pharisee in the truest sense ( ). He reasserts his faith in all the law and the prophets, holding to the Messianic hope. A curious "heretic" surely! Which these themselves also look for ( ην κα αυτο ουτο προσδεχοντα ). Probably with a gesture towards his accusers. He does not treat them all as Sadducees. See for similar use of the verb ( προσδεχομενο την μακαριαν ελπιδα , looking for the happy hope).

‏ Acts 24:14

I confess ( ομολογω ). The only charge left was that of being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. This Paul frankly confesses is true. He uses the word in its full sense. He is "guilty" of that.

After the Way ( κατα την οδον ). This word Paul had already applied to Christianity (22:4). He prefers it to "sect" ( αιρεσιν which means a choosing, then a division). Paul claims Christianity to be the real (whole, catholic) Judaism, not a "sect" of it. But he will show that Christianity is not a deviation from Judaism, but the fulfilment of it (Page) as he has already shown in Ga 3; Ro 9.

So serve I the God of our fathers ( ουτως λατρευω τω πατρωιω θεω ). Paul has not stretched the truth at all. He has confirmed the claim made before the Sanhedrin that he is a spiritual Pharisee in the truest sense (23:6). He reasserts his faith in all the law and the prophets, holding to the Messianic hope. A curious "heretic" surely!

Which these themselves also look for ( ην κα αυτο ουτο προσδεχοντα ). Probably with a gesture towards his accusers. He does not treat them all as Sadducees. See Tit 2:13 for similar use of the verb ( προσδεχομενο την μακαριαν ελπιδα, looking for the happy hope).