CHRISTIANITY IS NOT MADNESS

Acts 26:24-26 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 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.

Previous verses tell of the resurrected Son of God, Christ Jesus, calling Paul to obey His will, become a baptized believer in Him, and preach the gospel message of salvation throughout the world. This doctrine of Christianity being so new and strange to Festus, and presented fervently by Paul with such earnest zeal that Festus accused him of being under a mental delusion, saying thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

Such are the opinions of much of the unbelieving world today. Often in today's society members of the church of Christ are thought to be religious fanatics. Many throughout the world that are filled with ambitious worldliness look upon faithful, devoted Christians as overly zealous, pious, self-righteous individuals that invade their privacy, criticize their life style, and are determined to convert them into believing and accepting their "religious" doctrine. The times and disbelief in God, and the truths found in his Holy Scriptures, most certainly have not changed since the church was founded on the Day of Pentecost following the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Certainly the opinion of Festus, the Roman governor of Judea, was among these doubters.

But the apostle Paul, very courteously responding to these accusations, said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness, words of a doctrine foretold by Moses and the prophets, of which Festus had little or no knowledge. In order to confirm the things he had said, Paul assures Festus, as well as all others present at this hearing, that the king (Agrippa II) knoweth these things. Judea had been continuously ruled by members of the Herod family from the day Christ was born, when Herod the Great reigned, until this day under Herod Agrippa II. Therefore because of their long association with the Jewish people, all of these kings, including Agrippa II, were well aware of the Mosaic Law as well as the prophets who foretold of the Messiah to come from the Seed of Abraham. Many bible scholars even contend that some of these Herod kings accepted the Jewish faith for themselves, even though it may have been only for political reasons. Due to his long association with the Jewish people, king Agrippa II was fully aware of the prophecies, which Paul preached as being fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Therefore Paul knew that none of these things are hidden from him (Agrippa II), for this thing was not done in a corner.

Because of his knowledge of Paul's conversion to Christianity on the road to Damascus, as well as his understanding of Old Testament prophecies, Paul asked the king this question: King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? Being an obvious rhetorical question, Paul immediately answered for him: I know that thou believest (Vs. 27). This acknowledgement of king Agrippa II alone was sufficient testimony to disprove the contention by Festus that Paul was "mad," simplybecause he preached the gospel of Christ. The king was deeply moved by Paul's statements of defense and his testimony of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world. Agrippa II gave total credibility to Paul's preaching as well as his actions when he replied, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian (Vs. 28).

Paul used this answer, and this occasion, to appeal to all men and women present on this day, to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, to obey the will of God, and become a Christian by believing Jesus to be the Son of God, confessing that belief, and being buried in water baptism for the remission of their sins. 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 (Vs. 29). At that moment, Agrippa II, Festus, Bernice, and all they that sat with them, went aside, ...talked between themselves, and concluded that this man (Paul) doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar (Vss. 30-32). From this accounting we know that the chief captain, Felix, Festus, and king Agrippa II, all agree that Paul is innocent of all charges the Jews brought against him.