Acts 26:24 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Paul, thou art beside thyself;— Thou art distracted, much study drives thee to madness. Perhaps Festus might know that St. Paul, in his present confinement, spent a great deal of time in reading; and this was the most discreet turn which could have been given to such a charge. Besides, it would appear quite absurd to Festus to hear St. Paul talk of a resurrection from the dead accomplished in Jesus as the first-fruits; or pretend that a person should come from the Jews, whom he looked upon as a barbarous nation, who should enlighten not only his own nation, but even the Gentiles too, and, among the rest, the polite and learned Romans and Greeks. This, in conjunction with what St. Paul had said of the manner in which it was revealed to him, would naturally lead such a half-thinker as Festus appears to have been, to conclude roundly thathe was a visionary enthusiast. Besides, religious topics to men of rank and fortune among the Heathens, were what they ever avoided; and thus it happened, that when St. Paul pleaded his cause before Festus, as well as before Felix, thoughhis discourse was altogether to the purpose, yet because it turned upon religious subjects, it presently tired the judges, and they would hear no more of it.