Acts 24:14 Meaning and Explanation
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul freely confesses what is true: he worships the God of his fathers according to the way they call heresy, believing all that is written in the law and the prophets.
What Does Acts 24:14 Mean?
Having denied the crimes, Paul confesses the conviction. What the prosecution dismisses as a breakaway sect, Paul calls 'the way' — the earliest name for the company of Jesus's followers (Acts 9:2; 19:23). And he frames it not as departure but as continuity: the same God his fathers worshiped, the same Scriptures believed entire.
Following Jesus, Paul insists, is Israel's faith come to flower: Moses and all the prophets pointed to the Christ (Luke 24:27; John 5:46). The way is not a detour from the old paths but their destination. Believers still make Paul's twofold confession — a clear record about what we have not done, and an unashamed confession of the One we worship (Romans 1:16).
Acts 24:14 in the Original Language
hairesis (αἵρεσις), 'heresy' -- literally a chosen party or school of thought; the accusers' label for what Paul calls the way.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 24:14
What does Acts 24:14 mean?
Paul freely confesses what is true: he worships the God of his fathers according to the way they call heresy, believing all that is written in the law and the prophets.