{I confess} (homolog(935c)). 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} (kata t(886e) hodon). This
word Paul had already applied to Christianity ( 22:4 ). He
prefers it to "sect" (hairesin 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} (hout(9373) latreu(9320)t(9369) patr(9369)(9369) the(9369)).
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} (h(886e)
kai autoi houtoi prosdechontai). 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 (prosdechomenoi t(886e) makarian
elpida, looking for the happy hope).