Acts 26:24

"And as he thus made his defense, Festus saith with. loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning is turning thee mad"As he thus made his defense" "The present participle here indicates that Festus broke in and interrupted Paul's defense" (Reese p. 882). "Festus" His full name was Porcius (POUR shih us) Festus (FESS tuss). Nothing is known of his life prior to his appointment as governor of Judea. "With. loud voice" Loud enough to interrupt Paul's preaching. "Thou art mad" "Means that Paul's enthusiasm (in Festus' opinion) had overcome his better judgment. Festus had earlier described Jesus simply 'as one who was dead' (Acts 25:10), yet Paul says He has risen from the dead! Indeed, who ever heard of such things? And Paul talks about bringing 'light' to Gentiles (and of course, that included Romans like Festus). Well, Festus' better judgment had not been affected. They were superior to the conquered peoples. They did not need any light!" (Reese p. 882). "Thy much learning is turning thee mad" "Too much study is driving you mad" (NEB), inferring that Festus had probably heard Paul quote many Scriptures in his defense, and or in previous conversations. Notice that Festus had the same attitude that has infected some people today. They tend to blame everything on "too much religion" in our culture. Festus, like many people today, probably believed that. man with Paul's abilities and talents was wasting them in preaching. message that only brought him trouble. "Such. career, on the part of. man of great learning and talent, he could not reconcile with those maxims of ease or of ambition which he regarded as the highest rule in life" (McGarvey p. 256).