And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. (25) But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but I speak forth the words of truth and soberness. (26) 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. (27) King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
It is well worth the Reader's notice, that the interruption Festus made to Paul's discourse, and the idea he had conceived that the Apostle was mad, is the very same conduct still pursued by all carnal men in their opposition to the Gospel, and the preachers of free grace in Christ. To the Lord Jesus himself the same was said, Mark 3:21. Yea, some went further, John 10:21. And his Apostles fell under similar reproach, 2 Corinthians 5:13. But, alas! the insanity is all on the other side. And the Holy Ghost hath given the cause, 1 Corinthians 2:14-15
Let the Reader notice also the boldness of Paul, when he said, that Agrippa could not be ignorant of what the whole Roman empire had sounded with; namely, the Person, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus! Agrippa himself had professed his belief in the Jews religion, as history records of him. And, consequently, he could not be ignorant what the Prophets had said of the Messiah. And, as the coming of Christ, his miracles, and ministry, his death on the cross, and the prodigies which attended that death, and his resurrection which followed, were not done in a corner, but as fully known and attested, as the light of the sun at noonday, in confirmation that He was the Messiah; Paul assumed it for a fact, that Agrippa must acknowledge their truth. And, under these impressions, he boldly put the question to the King, and as instantly answered it himself: Believest thou the Prophets? I know that thou believest.