But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul cleverly reclaims the word "sect," reminding Felix that Judaism itself had various "sects" or schools of thought. He highlights that his faith, though labeled negatively, is actually rooted in and continues the worship of the God of his ancestors, as understood through the established Law and Prophets.
But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul stands before Governor Felix, responding to charges brought by Jewish accusers. They've accused him of stirring up trouble and being a ringleader of the "sect of the Nazarenes." Paul counters by explaining that the "Way" he follows is actually a continuation of the ancient faith, rooted in the Law and the Prophets, and that his worship of God is consistent with that heritage.
The early followers of Jesus were labeled with terms like 'sect' or 'heresy.' Yet, Paul boldly claims he's still worshipping the 'God of our fathers.' How is this possible?
When the Jewish leaders accused Paul, they used the term 'sect' (or 'heresy') to marginalize him and the early Christian movement. Paul, however, skillfully reclaims the narrative.
A Different Path, The Same God
Paul acknowledges that his path is called a 'sect' by his accusers. The original Greek word for 'sect' can also mean 'school of thought' or 'party.' In classical Greek, it wasn't inherently negative, but the Jewish leaders were using it to insult and dismiss Christianity.
Paul counters this by saying, 'I worship the God of our fathers.' This is a crucial point! He's not introducing a new deity or abandoning the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He's insisting that his way of worshipping this ancestral God is still faithful to Him.
This highlights a key tension: the religious establishment saw Christianity as a radical departure, a break from tradition. But Paul’s defense is that it's actually the fulfillment and continuation of the true worship of the God his ancestors knew.
Paul connects his 'Way' of worship directly to the foundational texts of Judaism. What does this tell us about his defense?
Paul doesn't just say he worships the God of his fathers; he immediately grounds this worship in shared scripture.
The Cornerstone of Belief
Ask a follow-up
He states, 'believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets.' This is a powerful assertion in his defense.
Paul is essentially saying, 'You accuse me of heresy, but my faith is based on the exact scriptures you revere. My understanding might differ, but my foundation is the same.'
Understand the original words
hodos · Greek Noun
An early Christian designation for the new faith, reflecting the belief that Jesus is the unique 'way' or path to salvation and that followers live in accordance with His teachings.
hairesis · Greek Noun
A term used here by opponents to describe the Christian community, implying a deviation from established orthodoxy, often used pejoratively to suggest a breakaway group or faction.
latreuō · Greek Verb
To perform acts of religious devotion or reverence toward God, acknowledging His worthiness and sovereignty.
Torah · Hebrew Noun
The entire body of instruction given by God to Israel through Moses, foundational to the covenant relationship and reflecting God's righteous standards.
Paul is defending himself before Roman governor Felix. The charge is that Paul is a ringleader of a 'sect' (or 'heresy' as the Jews called it) that deviates from Judaism. Paul's defense is that he still worships the God of his Jewish ancestors and believes in the Jewish Law and Prophets, framing Christianity not as a break from Judaism, but as its faithful continuation and fulfillment.
c. 30s AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The foundational events of Christianity, leading to the formation of the early Jesus movement.
c. 30s-40s AD
Early Spread of the Way
The movement, referred to as 'the Way,' spreads primarily among Jewish communities in Judea and surrounding areas.
c. 44 AD
Herod Agrippa I Persecutes Christians
King Herod Agrippa I orders the execution of James and imprisons Peter, indicating growing Jewish leadership concern and action against the Jesus movement.
c. 48-49 AD
Council of Jerusalem
A significant debate among apostles and elders addresses the inclusion of Gentiles into the movement, impacting the boundaries between Judaism and Christianity.
c. 50s AD
Paul's Ministry and Growing Jewish Opposition
Paul's extensive missionary journeys lead to the establishment of churches among both Jews and Gentiles, but also to increased hostility from segments of the Jewish leadership.
c. 58 AD— this verse
Paul Arrested in Jerusalem
Paul is arrested in the Jerusalem temple by Jewish accusers who claim he has brought Gentiles into the temple and violated Jewish law. He is subsequently defended by Roman authorities.
c. 60s AD
Paul's Imprisonment and Trials
Paul undergoes a series of trials before Roman governors and rulers, including Felix and Festus, and eventually appeals to Caesar, leading to his voyage to Rome.
This verse speaks of a prophet like Moses that God would raise up, a concept that Paul implicitly connects to Jesus when he speaks of believing what is written in the Law and the Prophets.
Psalm 22:1-31This psalm describes the suffering of a righteous one in a way that early Christians, including Paul, saw as a prophetic depiction of the Messiah's passion, aligning with Paul's belief in the Scriptures.
Isaiah 53:1-12This famous passage about the Suffering Servant is a key text Paul and other early believers used to explain the Messiah's role, demonstrating their belief in prophetic writings.
Romans 10:4Paul explicitly states that Christ is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, directly supporting his claim in Acts 24:14 that his faith aligns with these scriptures.
Acts 26:22-23In a similar defense before Agrippa, Paul directly quotes Isaiah, showing that his message of Christ's suffering and resurrection is rooted in the Law and the Prophets.
ellicottActs 24:14: "But 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:"
(14) After the way which they call heresy. —Better, which they call a sect. The Greek noun is the same as in Acts 24:5 , and ought, therefore, to be translated by the same English word. As it is, the reader does not see that the “way” had been called a heresy. In using the term “the way,” St. Paul adopts…
gillActs 24:14: "But 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:"
But this I confess unto thee,.... What was truth he was not ashamed of, but ready to own, and bear his testimony for, whatever was the consequence of it: that after the way which they call heresy; referring to the charge of his being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, Acts 24:5 and meaning by the…
Paul cleverly reclaims the word "sect," reminding Felix that Judaism itself had various "sects" or schools of thought. He highlights that his faith, though labeled negatively, is actually rooted in and continues the worship of the God of his ancestors, as understood through the established Law and Prophets.
Paul stands before Governor Felix, responding to charges brought by Jewish accusers. They've accused him of stirring up trouble and being a ringleader of the "sect of the Nazarenes." Paul counters by explaining that the "Way" he follows is actually a continuation of the ancient faith, rooted in the Law and the Prophets, and that his worship of God is consistent with that heritage.
Paul stands before Governor Felix, responding to charges brought by Jewish accusers. They've accused him of stirring up trouble and being a ringleader of the "sect of the Nazarenes." Paul counters by explaining that the "Way" he follows is actually a continuation of the ancient faith, rooted in the Law and the Prophets, and that his worship of God is consistent with that heritage.
"But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets," — Paul cleverly reclaims the word "sect," reminding Felix that Judaism itself had various "sects" or schools of thought. He highlights that his faith, though labeled negatively, is actually rooted in a…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026