24As Paul made this defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you to madness!" [26:25] Paul answered, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking words of truth and sound judgment. [26:26] For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. [26:27] King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe." [26:28] Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian!" [26:29] Paul said: "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am — except for these chains." [26:30] Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them, [26:31] and when they had withdrawn they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing deserving death or imprisonment." [26:32] And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."
ACT 26:24-32
Festus Interrupts Paulʼs Defense
In the world it was spoken into
In this scene, Paul stands before Festus, the Roman procurator, and King Agrippa II, a client king of Rome. Festus’s accusation that Paul is “insane” reflects a common Greco-Roman dismissal of religious fervor as irrational madness. Paul’s response, asserting “truth and sobriety” , counters this by appealing to the Greco-Roman ideal of rational discourse and self-control. Festus’s use of “most excellent” underscores his Roman authority, while Paul’s appeal to Agrippa’s knowledge of Jewish prophecy highlights Agrippa’s role as a mediator between Jewish and Roman worlds. Agrippa’s retort, questioning whether Paul seeks to persuade him to become a Christian, reveals the tension between Paul’s Jewish messianic claims and Roman political loyalty. The public nature of this trial, “not done in a corner,” aligns with Roman legal transparency and the honor-shame dynamics of public reputation.
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How other translations render this
ACT 26:24
- KJV
- And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
- BSB
- At this stage of Paulʼs defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”
- Koinōnos
- As Paul made this defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you to madness!
ACT 26:25
- KJV
- But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
- BSB
- But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.
- Koinōnos
- Paul answered, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking words of truth and sound judgment.
ACT 26:26
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.
- Koinōnos
- For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner.
ACT 26:27
- KJV
- King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
- BSB
- King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
- Koinōnos
- King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.
ACT 26:28
- KJV
- Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
- BSB
- Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”
- Koinōnos
- Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian!
ACT 26:29
- KJV
- And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
- BSB
- “Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”
- Koinōnos
- Paul said: "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am — except for these chains.
ACT 26:30
- KJV
- And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
- BSB
- Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them.
- Koinōnos
- Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them,
ACT 26:31
- KJV
- And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
- BSB
- On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”
- Koinōnos
- and when they had withdrawn they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing deserving death or imprisonment.
ACT 26:32
- KJV
- Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
- BSB
- And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
- Koinōnos
- And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ACT 26:24
- You are insane:The word translated 'insane' here describes a state of raving madness, often associated with prophetic frenzy or extreme mental disturbance, suggesting a loss of rational thought.
- learning:The term translated 'learning' refers specifically to written documents or literature, implying a deep engagement with scholarly texts and formal education.
ACT 26:25
- most excellent:The title 'most excellent' was a formal address used for high-ranking Roman officials, indicating respect for their authority and position rather than a personal assessment of character.
- sobriety:The word translated 'sobriety' carried the sense of self-control, prudence, and sound judgment, particularly in moral and ethical matters, not merely abstaining from alcohol.