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Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Simplified Cowboy Version

Acts 26:24

Festus then hollered out, "Give us a break, Paul. You've had your nose in a book so long you will believe anything. You've driven yourself mad, sir!"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Court;   Insanity;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Festus;   Madness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Rome;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Knowledge;   Learning;   Ordination;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jehu;   Madmen (2);   Shemaiah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Oration, Orator;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Caesarea;   Damascus;   Festus, Porcius;   Nero;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Enthusiasm;   Fool;   Herod;   Learning;   Letters;   Madness;   Scripture;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Herod, Family of;   2 Unlearned Ignorant;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Festus;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Beside;   Festus;   Ignorance;   Mad;   Make;   Sober;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.”
King James Version (1611)
And as hee thus spake for himselfe, Festus saide with a lowd voyce, Paul, thou art beside thy selfe, much learning doeth make thee mad.
King James Version
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
English Standard Version
And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind."
New American Standard Bible
While Paul was stating these things in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you insane."
New Century Version
While Paul was saying these things to defend himself, Festus said loudly, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Too much study has driven you crazy!"
Amplified Bible
While Paul was making this defense, Festus said loudly, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great education is turning you toward madness."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad."
Legacy Standard Bible
Now while Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Great learning is driving you out of your mind."
Berean Standard Bible
At this stage of Paul's defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, "You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!"
Contemporary English Version
Before Paul finished defending himself, Festus shouted, "Paul, you're crazy! Too much learning has driven you out of your mind."
Complete Jewish Bible
But just as he reached this point in his defense, Festus shouted at the top of his voice, "Sha'ul, you're out of your mind! So much learning is driving you crazy!"
Darby Translation
And as he answered for his defence with these things, Festus says with a loud voice, Thou art mad, Paul; much learning turns thee to madness.
Easy-to-Read Version
While Paul was still defending himself, Festus shouted, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Too much study has made you crazy."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And as he thus answered for himselfe, Festus said with a loude voyce, Paul, thou art besides thy selfe: much learning doeth make thee mad.
George Lamsa Translation
And while Paul was pleading in this manner, Festus cried with a loud voice: Paul, you are overwrought. Much study has made you mad.
Good News Translation
As Paul defended himself in this way, Festus shouted at him, "You are mad, Paul! Your great learning is driving you mad!"
Lexham English Bible
And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!"
Literal Translation
And he defending himself with these things, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, You rave! Your many letters turned you into madness.
American Standard Version
And as he thus made his defence, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning is turning thee mad.
Bible in Basic English
And when he made his answer in these words, Festus said in a loud voice, Paul, you are off your head; your great learning has made you unbalanced.
Hebrew Names Version
As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Sha'ul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!"
International Standard Version
As he continued to make his defense, Festus shouted, "You're out of your mind, Paul! Too much education is driving you crazy!"2 Kings 9:11; John 10:20; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:13-14; 4:10;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
AND as Paulos was thus making defence, Festos cried with a high voice, Thou art mad, Paulos; much learning [fn] hath made thee mad !
Murdock Translation
And when Paul had extended his defence thus far, Festus cried, with a loud voice: Paul, thou art deranged: much study hath deranged thee.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And as he thus spake for hym selfe, Festus sayde with a loude voyce: Paul, thou art besyde thy selfe, much learnyng doth make thee mad.
English Revised Version
And as he thus made his defence, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning doth turn thee to madness.
World English Bible
As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!"
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And as he was thus making his defence, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself, much learning doth make thee mad.
Weymouth's New Testament
As Paul thus made his defence, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, "You are raving mad, Paul; and great learning is driving you mad."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whanne he spak these thingis, and yeldide resoun, Festus seide with greet vois, Poul, thou maddist; many lettris turnen thee to woodnesse.
Update Bible Version
And as he thus made his defense, Festus says with a loud voice, Paul, you are insane; your much learning is turning you insane.
Webster's Bible Translation
And as he was thus speaking for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee insane.
New English Translation
As Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed loudly, "You have lost your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!"
New King James Version
Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!"
New Living Translation
Suddenly, Festus shouted, "Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!"
New Life Bible
As Paul was speaking for himself, Festus cried out in a loud voice, "Paul, you are crazy! All your learning keeps you from thinking right!"
New Revised Standard
While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, "You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, as he was saying these things in his defence, Festus, with a loud voice, saith - Thou art raving, Paul! Thy great learning, is turning thee round unto, raving madness.
Douay-Rheims Bible
As he spoke these things and made his answer, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad.
Revised Standard Version
And as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are mad; your great learning is turning you mad."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
As he thus answered for him selfe: Festus sayde with a lowde voyce: Paul thou arte besides thy selfe. Moche learnynge hath made the mad.
Young's Literal Translation
And, he thus making a defence, Festus with a loud voice said, `Thou art mad, Paul; much learning doth turn thee mad;'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Whan he thus answered for himselfe, Festus sayde with a loude voyce: Paul, thou art besydes thy selfe, moch lernynge maketh ye madd.
Mace New Testament (1729)
As he was thus making his defence, Festus broke out into this exclamation, "Paul, you are mad: much study has turn'd your brain."
THE MESSAGE
That was too much for Festus. He interrupted with a shout: "Paul, you're crazy! You've read too many books, spent too much time staring off into space! Get a grip on yourself, get back in the real world!"

Contextual Overview

24Festus then hollered out, "Give us a break, Paul. You've had your nose in a book so long you will believe anything. You've driven yourself mad, sir!" 25Paul shook his head and said, "No sir, I ain't been in the locoweed. Everything I've said is true. 26King Agrippa is familiar with everything I've said. Why would I be so bold as to risk my life for a fable? These things didn't take place in a dark alley, but right out in the open for everyone to see. 27King Agrippa, do you believe what the Good Book and prophets said? I know you believe, Sir!" 28Agrippa shot back angrily, "Do you think I'm some tavern girl who can be persuaded with a nice tale of adventure? Do you think I will just become a Christian in the blink of an eye?" 29Paul shrugged his shoulders and said, "I care not if it is today or tomorrow. I just pray to God you and everyone else here might become like me . . . except for the chains that lay heavy upon me." 30Agrippa, Bernice, and Festus left, followed by everyone else. 31They talked on the way out and agreed Paul had not done anything to deserve the death penalty. 32Then Agrippa shook his head and said to Festus, "He'd be a free man right now if he hadn't insisted on taking his case before Caesar."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

spake: Acts 22:1

Festus: Acts 17:32, Acts 24:25, Acts 25:19, Acts 25:20

Paul: Acts 26:11, 2 Kings 9:11, Jeremiah 29:26, Hosea 9:7, Mark 3:21, John 8:48, John 8:52, John 10:20, John 10:21, 1 Corinthians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 4:10, 2 Corinthians 5:13

Reciprocal: Psalms 119:46 - speak Psalms 123:4 - with the scorning Ecclesiastes 9:3 - and madness Isaiah 59:15 - maketh himself a prey Matthew 11:18 - He John 7:20 - Thou Acts 12:15 - Thou Acts 24:27 - Porcius Festus 1 Corinthians 14:23 - will Philippians 1:17 - that 2 Peter 2:16 - the madness

Cross-References

Matthew 22:32
'I'm the Boss of Abraham, the first ramrod of my outfit, and of all his sons.' My Dad isn't the Boss of the dead, but of those who are alive!"
Luke 12:32
Don't worry, cowboys. The Boss wants to take care of you.
Acts 7:32
'I am the God of all your daddies. I am the God of Abe, Isaac, and Jake.' Moses was shakin' like a newborn calf in a snowstorm and didn't even dare look.
Hebrews 13:6
So we are more'n confident when we say, "The Lord rides beside me. I ain't afraid of nothing. People don't scare me at all. What could they do?"
Revelation 1:17
When my eyes fell on him, I dropped to the ground at his feet like a dead man. He reached down with his right hand and said, "Do not fear. I am the first and the last.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And as he thus spake for himself,.... Asserting the integrity and innocence of his past life and conversation, in proof of which he appealed to the Jews themselves; setting forth the prejudices to the Christian religion he had been under; declaring the heavenly vision that had appeared to him, and the divine orders he had received; alleging, that in his ministry there was an entire harmony between him, and the writings of Moses, and the prophets, for which the Jews professed a veneration; as he was thus vindicating himself, ere he had well finished his apology,

Festus said with a loud voice; that all might hear, and being moved with resentment at what he had heard; and it may be, he was displeased with Paul that he took so much notice of Agrippa, and so often addressed him, and appealed to him, when he scarce ever turned to, or looked at him:

Paul, thou art beside thyself; not in thy senses, or right mind, to talk of such an appearance and vision, and especially of the resurrection of a person from the dead. This is no unusual thing for the ministers of the Gospel to be reckoned madmen, and the doctrines they preach madness and folly: our Lord himself was said to be beside himself, and to have a devil, and be mad; and so were his apostles, Mark 3:21 and it is not to be wondered at that natural men should entertain such an opinion of them, since what they deliver is quite out of their sphere and reach: Festus added,

much learning doth make thee mad; the apostle was a man of much learning, both Jewish, Greek, and Roman; and Festus perceived him to be of great reading by his making mention of Moses, and the prophets, writings which he knew nothing at all of. And as this sometimes is the case, that much reading, and hard study, do cause men to be beside themselves, he thought it was Paul's case: so the philosopher f suggests, that men of great wit and learning, and who are closely engaged in study, whether in philosophy, or politics, or poetry, or in technical affairs, are inclined to be melancholy, and phrenetic.

f Aristotel. Problem. sect. 30.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Festus said with a loud voice - Amazed at the zeal of Paul. Paul doubtless evinced deep interest in the subject, and great earnestness in the delivery of his defense.

Thou art beside thyself - Thou art deranged; thou art insane. The reasons why Festus thought Paul mad were, probably:

(1) His great earnestness and excitement on the subject.

(2) His laying such stress on the gospel of the despised Jesus of Nazareth, as if it were a matter of infinite moment. Festus despised it; and he regarded it as proof of derangement that so much importance was attached to it.

(3) Festus regarded, probably, the whole story of the vision that Paul said had appeared to him as the effect of an inflamed and excited imagination, and as a proof of delirium. This is not an uncommon charge against those who are Christians, and especially when they evince unusual zeal. Sinners regard them as under the influence of delirium and fanaticism; as terrified by imaginary and superstitious fears; or as misguided by fanatical leaders. Husbands often thus think their wives to be deranged, and parents perceive their children that, and wicked people assume the ministers of the gospel to be crazy. The frivolous think it proof of derangement that others are serious, anxious, and prayerful; the rich, that others are willing to part with their property to do good; the ambitious and worldly, that others are willing to leave their country and home to go among the Gentiles to spend their lives in making known the unsearchable riches of Christ. The really sober and rational part of the world they who fear God and keep his commandments; they who believe that eternity is before them, and who strive to live for it - are thus charged with insanity by those who are really deluded, and who are thus living lives of madness and folly. The tenants of a madhouse often think all others deranged but themselves; but there is no madness so great, no delirium so awful, as to neglect the eternal interest of the soul for the sake of the pleasures and honors which this life can give.

Much learning - It is probable that Festus was acquainted with the fact that Paul was a learned man. Paul had not, while before him, manifested particularly his learning. But Festus, acquainted in some way with the fact that he was well-educated, supposed that his brain had been turned, and that the effect of it was seen by devotion to a fanatical form of religion. The tendency of long-continued and intense application to produce mental derangement is everywhere known.

Doth make thee mad - Impels, drives, or excites thee περιτρέπει peritrepei to madness.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 26:24. Paul, thou art beside thyself — "Thou art mad, Paul!" "Thy great learning hath turned thee into a madman." As we sometimes say, thou art cracked, and thy brain is turned. By the τα πολλα γραμματα it is likely that Festus meant no more than this, that Paul had got such a vast variety of knowledge, that his brain was overcharged with it: for, in this speech, Paul makes no particular show of what we call learning; for he quotes none of their celebrated authors, as he did on other occasions; see Acts 17:28. But he here spoke of spiritual things, of which Festus, as a Roman heathen, could have no conception; and this would lead him to conclude that Paul was actually deranged. This is not an uncommon case with many professing Christianity; who, when a man speaks on experimental religion, on the life of God in the soul of man-of the knowledge of salvation, by the remission of sins-of the witness of the Spirit, c., c., things essential to that Christianity by which the soul is saved, are ready to cry out, Thou art mad: he is an enthusiast: that is, a religious madman one who is not worthy to be regarded and yet, strange to tell, these very persons who thus cry out are surprised that Festus should have supposed that Paul was beside himself!


 
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