Acts 26:25
in Acts 26But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but speak forth words of truth and soberness.
KJV
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
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This verse in Acts 26
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I am not mad - I am not deranged. There are few more happy turns than what Paul gives to this accusation of Festus. He might have appealed to the course of his argument; he might have dwelt on the importance of the subject, and continued to reason; but he makes an appeal at once to Agrippa, and brings him in for a witness that he was not deranged. This would be far more likely to make an impression on the mind of Festus than anything that Paul could say in self-defense.
This site's exposition
much learning doth make thee mad
on Acts 26:24-26
As he thus spake for himself, Festus interrupts with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself, much learning doth make thee mad, a Roman's honest reaction to resurrection talk he cannot follow. Paul's answer is calm and precise, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness, and he turns at once back to Agrippa, for the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely, appealing to public facts a Jewish ruler of Palestine could check for himself. This thing was not done in a corner is the apologetic center of the whole speech, the crucifixion and its aftermath claimed as public Jerusalem history rather than a private vision, open to verification by anyone willing to ask.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Then too he gives him to understand why, turning from him, he addressed his speech to the king: "For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him: for this thing was not done in a corner." He shows, that the king knows all perfectly; at the same time, all but saying to the Jews, And ye indeed ought to have known these things-for this is the meaning of that which he adds, "For this thing was not done in a corner."
"For this thing," he says, "was not done in a corner." Here he speaks of the Cross, of the Resurrection: that the doctrine was come to every part of the world.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
I am not mad, most excellent Festus - The style properly belonging to a Roman propretor. How inexpressibly beautiful is this reply! How strong! yet how decent and respectful!
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
I am not mad, most noble Festus - This most sensible, appropriate, and modest answer, was the fullest proof he could give of his sound sense and discretion. The title, ΚρατιϚε, most noble, or most excellent, which he gives to Festus, shows at once that he was far above indulging any sentiment of anger or displeasure at Festus, though he had called him a madman; and it shows farther that, with the strictest conscientiousness, even an apostle may give titles of respect to men in power, which taken literally, imply much more than the persons deserve to whom they are applied. ΚρατιϚος, which implies most excellent, was merely a title which belonged to the office of Festus. St. Paul hereby acknowledges him as the governor; while, perhaps, moral excellence of any kind could with no propriety be attributed to him. Speak forth the words of truth and soberness - Αληθειας και σωφροσυνης, Words of truth and of mental soundness. The very terms used by the apostle would at once convince Festus that he was mistaken. The σωφροσυνη of the apostle was elegantly opposed to the μανια of the governor: the one signifying mental derangement, the other mental sanity. Never was an answer, on the spur of the moment, more happily conceived.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | But | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| Παῦλος· | paulos | Paul; | G3972 → | 158 times |
| οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| μαίνομαί | mainomai | I am insane | G3105 → | 5 times |
| φησιν | phesin | says | G5346 → | 66 times |
| κράτιστε | kratiste | most excellent | G2903 → | 4 times |
| Φῆστε, | pheste | Festus, | G5347 → | 13 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἀληθείας | aletheias | of truth | G225 → | 109 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| σωφροσύνης | sophrosunes | sobriety | G4997 → | |
| ῥήματα | rhemata | declarations | G4487 → | 68 times |
| ἀποφθέγγομαι. | apophthengomai | I utter. | G669 → | 3 times |
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
δὲBut
deG1161 →2765 times
Παῦλος·Paul;
paulosG3972 →158 times
οὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
μαίνομαίI am insane
mainomaiG3105 →5 times
φησινsays
phesinG5346 →66 times
κράτιστεmost excellent
kratisteG2903 →4 times
Φῆστε,Festus,
phesteG5347 →13 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἀληθείαςof truth
aletheiasG225 →109 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
σωφροσύνηςsobriety
sophrosunesG4997 →
ῥήματαdeclarations
rhemataG4487 →68 times
ἀποφθέγγομαι.I utter.
apophthengomaiG669 →3 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 3:15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and…
it leads to
- Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- 2 Timothy 2:25–26
He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- Luke 21:14–15
So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.
- 1 Peter 3:2
when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.
- Matthew 10:18–20
On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
- Colossians 4:6
Through
Titus 1:9He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.
- 2 Timothy 1:13
Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Timothy 6:3
If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 52; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament.