A Clear Conscience Is a Good Pillow

Acts 24:10-16

Back in my day, getting a good night’s sleep wasn’t nearly as complicated as it is today.

You didn’t need a $3,000 mattress with cooling gel, a weighted blanket, or a lavender-scented pillow spray.

You had a mattress, a pillow, and maybe a fan in the window—and somehow, you survived!

Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for modern helps to aid in getting good sleep.

But today, people will spend billions of dollars each year trying to find rest.

There are apps to track your sleep, noise machines to play ocean sounds, and supplements to help you relax.

And yet, with all of that, many still toss and turn.

Because for many people, the real issue isn’t always what’s under your head—it’s what’s on your heart.

There’s an old Spanish proverb, dating back to the early 1600’s, that says, “A good conscience is the best pillow.”

And it’s true: you can have the finest bed money can buy, but if your conscience is guilty, you’ll never find rest.

On the other hand, even the humblest cot can feel like a feather bed when your heart is right with God.

The Apostle Paul understood this.

In Acts 24, he stood on trial before the Roman governor Felix.

He had been falsely accused, nearly killed by a mob, and dragged into court to defend his faith.

And yet, in the middle of all that pressure, he declared: “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”

That is where true rest is found—not in possessions, not in comfort, not in circumstances—but in a clear conscience before God.

That’s why this week’s saying is: “A clear conscience is a good pillow.”

And from Paul’s example, we’re going to learn how to pursue it, practice it, and enjoy the peace it brings.

So let’s begin where Paul begins—with …

I. The Pursuit of a Clear Conscience

We’ve heard that a clear conscience is the real pillow for peace.

But the question is: how do we get that clear conscience?

Paul shows us in Acts 24:16 that a clear conscience doesn’t just happen by accident.

It takes pursuit.

It takes discipline.

It takes daily exercise.

Let’s look first at the pursuit of a clear conscience.

A. It Requires Consistent Effort

Paul says, “I exercise myself.”

That’s the language of discipline, like an athlete in training.

No athlete becomes strong without regular practice, and no Christian keeps a clear conscience without daily obedience.

This is not a one-time decision—it’s a continual commitment.

1 Timothy 1:19 says,

1 Timothy 1:19 KJV

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

In other words, you must guard your conscience daily, or your faith will run aground.

Think about a garden.

If you neglect it, weeds spring up quickly.

If you want healthy fruit, you have to work the soil, pull the weeds, and keep it watered.

So it is with the conscience—it must be exercised and cared for every day.

But effort alone isn’t enough.

If you exercise in the wrong direction, you won’t get the results you want.

That’s why Paul not only worked at it—he worked with God’s standard in mind.

B. It Recognizes God’s Standard

Paul says his goal was to be “void of offence toward God, and toward men.”

Notice the order, by the way: God first, then men.

If we try to live only for the approval of people, we will compromise our conscience.

But if we live first for God’s approval, we will also live honestly before men.

A clear conscience comes from aligning with His Word, not from keeping up appearances.

We yield to the Holy Spirit and His conviction in our lives, we seek the Word of God for daily guidance and we strive to obey in each moment of the day.

Having the right priorities will guide us to do God’s Will.

As John Wesley once said, “Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell.”

That’s the kind of single-hearted conscience Paul was after.

So the pursuit of a clear conscience is marked by consistent effort and by holding to God’s standard.

But Paul doesn’t just tell us to chase after it—he shows us what it looks like in everyday life.

That brings us to …

II. The Practice of a Clear Conscience

Verse 16 says his goal was to be “void of offence toward God, and toward men.”

That’s not theory—that’s practice.

So let’s look at what it means to practice a clear conscience in real life.

A. Toward God — A Life of Repentance and Faith

The first and most important direction of our conscience is upward.

Paul made it his aim to live with nothing between him and the Lord.

Psalm 32:3–5 tells us about David when he kept silent about his sin:

Psalm 32:3–5 KJV

3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old Through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Guilt wears you out.

It steals your joy.

It even affects your health.

But when David confessed, he said, “Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”

That’s the practice of a clear conscience—keeping short accounts with God.

Don’t let sin pile up like unpaid bills.

Confess it quickly.

Repent sincerely.

Believe God’s promise of forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 tells us,

1 John 1:9 KJV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

A clear conscience toward God isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being honest and being restored.

Think of it like cleaning your glasses.

If you go too long without wiping them, the smudges build up until you can’t see clearly.

But a quick cleaning restores clarity.

Confession and repentance keep the lens of your soul clear so you can see God rightly.

But Paul didn’t stop with his relationship with God.

He also cared deeply about how his life impacted others.

A clear conscience doesn’t just look upward—it looks outward.

B. Toward Men — A Life of Integrity and Reconciliation

Paul strove to live with no offense toward men.

That doesn’t mean he never upset people—sometimes obedience to God will offend.

But it does mean he sought to live without wronging others.

Romans 12:18 says,

Romans 12:18 KJV

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

In other words, do everything you can on your side to make things right.

That might mean asking forgiveness when you’ve wronged someone.

But it may also mean reconciling with someone, or making restitution to someone.

It might mean paying back what you owe, or admitting you spoke harshly, or restoring a broken relationship.

Integrity is not —never making mistakes—it’s making them right when they happen.

Shakespeare once wrote, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

It speaks to the responsibility of those who are in leadership or in a position of authority, or privilege.

We, as Christians, have that same responsibility…as children of God, and joint-heirs with Christ —children of the king—to stand in integrity and honesty before all men.

Many powerful men can’t sleep at night because of the people they’ve cheated, lied to, or wronged.

But the poorest Christian can sleep peacefully when his conscience is clear toward others.

So Paul shows us that the practice of a clear conscience has two directions—toward God in repentance and faith, and toward men in integrity and reconciliation.

And when you live that way, it produces something beautiful in your life—peace.

That’s where we turn next.

III. The Peace of a Clear Conscience

We’ve seen how Paul pursued a clear conscience with discipline.

We’ve seen how he practiced it—toward God with repentance, and toward men with integrity.

But what is the result of that kind of living?

Why does it matter so much?

Because a clear conscience brings peace that nothing else in this world can give.

We see first of all that…

A. It Brings Rest in This Life

Proverbs 3:24 says,

Proverbs 3:24 KJV

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

That’s not the promise of a new mattress—it’s the promise of a clean heart.

When your conscience is clear, you don’t have to fear being found out.

You don’t have to live in the shadows.

You can lay your head on the pillow and rest.

Think of children who sleep soundly.

They don’t worry about bills or politics or what others think.

They rest because their world feels safe.

In the same way, the Christian who walks with a clear conscience rests because his world is safe in the hands of God.

If you’re tossing and turning at night, maybe the problem isn’t your pillow—it’s your conscience.

Ask God to search your heart.

Confess what needs to be confessed.

Make things right.

You may be surprised how quickly your sleep becomes sweet again.

But the peace of a clear conscience isn’t just about a good night’s sleep here and now.

It prepares us for something far greater—the day when we stand before the Lord.

B. It Brings Confidence in the Next Life

Paul lived with eternity in view.

In the very next chapter, Acts 25, he appeals to Caesar—not because he wanted to prolong the trial, but because he wanted to stand before God with nothing to hide.

2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us,

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

A clear conscience today gives confidence for that day.

Imagine a student walking into class knowing he cheated on the exam versus the one who studied honestly.

One sits in fear, the other sits in peace.

So it will be at the judgment seat of Christ.

If you’ve lived with a clear conscience, you can face Him with confidence, not shame.

Live today in such a way that if you stood before Christ tonight, you would not be ashamed.

1 John 2:28 says,

1 John 2:28 KJV

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

So the peace of a clear conscience is both present and future.

It gives rest in this life, and it gives confidence in the next.

That’s why Paul could stand before Felix, before his accusers, and ultimately before God Himself—with peace.

Conclusion

We’ve seen today that a clear conscience doesn’t just appear—it must be pursued with daily discipline.

We’ve seen that it must be practiced both toward God, through repentance and faith, and toward men, through integrity and reconciliation.

And we’ve seen the peace it produces—rest in this life, and confidence in the next.

That’s why the old Spanish proverb is true: “A good conscience is the best pillow.”

You can buy comfort, you can chase pleasure, but you cannot purchase peace.

Only a clear conscience before God can give that.

Years ago, a wealthy man built a mansion with every luxury—softest beds, finest furnishings, grandest halls.

But he couldn’t sleep.

Night after night, he tossed and turned, plagued by guilt for the shady business deals that had made him rich.

Deals that had hurt men like the Christian farmer that lived on the edge of town

Meanwhile, this humble Christian farmer laid his head on a straw pillow in a drafty cabin and slept soundly.

What was the difference?

The first man had comfort, but no restful conscience.

The second man had Christ and forgiveness, and therefore peace.

Friend, which one are you today?

Is your heart weighed down with guilt, or bitterness, or unresolved sin?

Or can you lay your head down tonight with the peace of knowing that you are right with God and men?

Here’s the good news: through Jesus Christ, anyone can have that peace.

Because of the cross, your sins can be forgiven.

Because of His grace, your conscience can be made clean.

And because of His Spirit, you can walk each day with integrity.

So don’t settle for restless nights and a restless soul.

Pursue a clear conscience.

Practice it toward God and toward men.

And enjoy the peace of knowing that a clear conscience truly is the best pillow.

We’ve seen today that a clear conscience must be pursued, practiced, and that it brings peace both now and in eternity.

And now it is the time in our service where we come to the Lord’s Table—a place where we are called to do exactly that.

1 Corinthians 11:28 Paul is giving instruction to the church at Corinth about communion.

In that instruction he says,

1 Corinthians 11:28 KJV

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

The Lord’s Supper is not just a ritual.

It is a moment of self-examination.

It’s a time to ask: Is my conscience clear before God?

Is my conscience clear toward men?

If not, this is the moment to confess, to repent, to make things right.

Communion reminds us that our peace of conscience is not earned by our effort—it was purchased at the cross.

The bread reminds us of His body broken for us, the cup reminds us of His blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins.

Through Christ, our conscience can be cleansed, and our hearts can be at peace.

So as we enter this time, don’t come lightly.

Don’t come casually.

Come with a heart made clean by the blood of Christ, ready to remember Him with gratitude, and ready to live for Him with integrity.

Because a clear conscience is indeed the best pillow—but more than that, it’s the path to worshiping Christ with sincerity at His Table.