Acts 24:14
What does Acts 24:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 24:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 24:14 means
Paul openly confesses that he serves the God of their fathers according to the Way, which his opponents call a sect. He affirms belief in everything written in the Law and the Prophets. This shows that his faith is not a betrayal of Israel but its fulfillment. What others label a sect is, in truth, the path consistent with Scripture. The Way centers on Jesus the Messiah, as Acts elsewhere makes clear, and honors the promises to the fathers. Paul’s defense rests on continuity: his worship and doctrine grow out of the same Scriptures his accusers claim to uphold.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;
KJV
King James Version · 1611But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But this I will say openly to you, that I do give worship to the God of our fathers after that Way, which to them is not the true religion: but I have belief in all the things which are in the law and in the books of the prophets:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But this I confess to thee that according to the way which they call a heresy, so do I serve the Father and my God, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But this I avow to thee, that in the way which they call sect, so I serve my fathers'God, believing all things which are written throughout the law, and in the prophets;
Context
After clearing the civil accusations, Paul reframes the dispute as a matter of faith. Verse 14 begins his positive confession, anchoring his beliefs in Israel’s Scriptures while identifying with the Way that others malign. This leads naturally to verse 15, where he highlights the shared hope of resurrection—common ground with many Jews. From there, he will speak of his conscience (verse 16) and his charitable, worshipful purpose in coming to Jerusalem (verses 17–18), showing that his faith produces peace, not disorder.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 1:11
searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.
- Luke 16:16
The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.
- Acts 26:22
Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand unto this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses did say should come;
- Luke 16:29
But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
- Amos 8:14
They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, As thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, As the way of Beer-sheba liveth; they shall fall, and never rise up again.
- Matthew 7:12
All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.
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