Chapter
Verse

Acts 26:24

ESV 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."
NIV At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
NASB 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.'
CSB 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."
NLT Suddenly, Festus shouted, 'Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!'
KJV And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
NKJV Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

What does Acts 26:24 mean?

Paul has finished telling how he first persecuted Jesus-followers, then met and started following Jesus. He has also explained that Jesus fulfills the prophecies given in Scripture of the Jewish Messiah (Acts 26:2–23). His audience is Governor Festus, King Agrippa II, Agrippa's sister Bernice, and "the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city" of Caesarea Maritima, the Roman capital in the region (Acts 25:23).

Festus is Roman and has only held the position of governor for a few weeks. He knows little about Jewish religion and culture but wants to have a good relationship with local leaders. Those leaders, however, want Paul charged, convicted, and executed for crimes against the Roman law (Acts 25:1–2, 24). So, Festus is not only politically motivated, but he's also probably an annihilationist and believes the resurrection of Jesus goes against all reason. Only Paul's Roman citizenship and Festus' fair and reasonable nature are in Paul's favor.

It's unclear what Festus is referring to by Paul's "great learning." Paul mentioned how he was trained by the Pharisees (Acts 26:5), and he obviously knows how to address a Roman court, but we don't know how often Festus spoke with Paul before this council. Festus may not know that Paul can quote Greek philosophers easily (Acts 17:28). Felix, the previous governor, spoke with Paul often (Acts 24:24–26). It's possible Festus is merely being sarcastic.
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