Original Word: ἀσκέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: askeó
Pronunciation: as-KEH-o
Phonetic Spelling: (as-keh'-o)
KJV: exercise
NASB: do my best
Word Origin: [of uncertain affinity, probably from the same as G4632 (σκεῦος - vessels)]

1. to elaborate
2. (figuratively) train (by implication, strive)

exercise.

Probably from the same as skeuos; to elaborate, i.e. (figuratively) train (by implication, strive) -- exercise.

see GREEK skeuos

Word Origin
a prim. verb
Definition
to practice, endeavor
NASB Translation
do my best (1).

STRONGS NT 778: ἀσκέω

ἀσκέω, ἀσκῶ;

1. to form by art, to adorn; in Homer.

2. to exercise (oneself), take pains, labor, strive; followed by an infinitive (as in Xenophon, mem. 2, 1, 6; Cyril 5, 5, 12, etc.): Acts 24:16.

Concept

The verb rendered “strive” in Acts 24:16 embodies deliberate, sustained effort. It evokes the athlete honing skill, the artisan perfecting craft, and the steward guarding a trust. In biblical theology the term accents disciplined intent rather than mere habit, bringing into focus the believer’s responsibility to cultivate godliness with conscious energy.

New Testament Occurrence (Acts 24:16)

Standing before Governor Felix, Paul testifies, “In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man” (Acts 24:16). His words unite three themes:

1. Eschatological hope (“the resurrection of the righteous and the wicked,” Acts 24:15)
2. Ongoing effort (“I strive”)
3. A dual accountability (“before God and man”)

Thus Christian exertion grows out of future hope and is measured by present relationships, vertically and horizontally.

The Christian Conscience

Paul’s appeal to a “clear conscience” (suneidēsis) recurs throughout his letters (for example, 1 Timothy 1:5; Romans 9:1). Conscience is portrayed as:
• Educated by divine revelation (Romans 2:15)
• Purified through Christ’s blood (Hebrews 9:14)
• Preserved by disciplined living (1 Peter 3:16)

The lone use of Strong’s 778 supplies the active posture by which that conscience is maintained. It is not safeguarded passively; it is exercised.

Athletic and Disciplinary Imagery in Paul

Although the exact verb appears only once, its atmosphere permeates Paul’s writings. He speaks of:
• “Running in such a way as to take the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24)
• “Disciplining” his body (1 Corinthians 9:27)
• “Training” in godliness, “for physical exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things” (1 Timothy 4:8)

The shared motif is intentional training directed toward a spiritual goal. By selecting a verb familiar to the Greco-Roman world of athletics and philosophy, Paul sanctifies the concept of disciplined practice for Christian ends.

Hellenistic Background and Contrast with Pagan Asceticism

Classical writers employed the verb for both athletic preparation and ethical formation among philosophers. Stoics strove for apatheia; Cynics for self-sufficiency. Paul distances Christian striving from self-made righteousness (Philippians 3:9) by rooting it in the resurrection hope and the enabling grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10). Whereas pagan asceticism sought liberation from the body, biblical discipline esteems the body as a temple and instrument of service (Romans 12:1).

Old Testament Resonances

Though the Greek verb is absent from the Septuagint, its substance appears in calls to “seek” the LORD (Isaiah 55:6), “incline your heart” (Joshua 24:23), and “keep your heart with all diligence” (Proverbs 4:23). Such imperatives demand sustained effort akin to Paul’s “striving.”

Ministry and Pastoral Significance

1. Personal Integrity. Leaders must, like Paul, actively guard a conscience void of offense, recognizing that ministry credibility rests on transparent holiness.
2. Discipleship. Congregations need teaching that Christian growth is neither automatic nor merely emotional but pursued through prayer, Scripture, obedience, and accountability.
3. Hope-Driven Effort. Effort flows from assurance, not uncertainty. The resurrection hope supplies both motivation and direction.
4. Balanced Spirituality. The term warns against extremes: negligence on one side and legalistic asceticism on the other. Biblical striving harmonizes diligence with dependence on the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).

Summary

Strong’s Greek 778, though appearing only once, captures the heartbeat of purposeful Christian living: hopeful, disciplined, relationally accountable, and Spirit-empowered. Paul’s single use in Acts 24:16 invites every believer to the same lifelong practice—striving to keep a conscience clear before both God and humanity until the day when effort gives way to everlasting rest.

ασκω ἀσκῶ asko askô askō askō̂Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts