Acts 26:24

Acts 26:24 says, And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.  Festus responded to Paul by telling him much learning had made him mad.  Paul's education could not be denied, so the only way to deny what he was saying was to claim he had gone insane.  Some of the disciples had been dismissed as ignorant and unlearned, and now Paul was being accused of being too educated.  When people of the world hear about Christ but don't want to accept Him, they will use any excuse to attempt to discredit the messenger.  I have even heard Christians discuss preachers based on their education or lack thereof.  The key is whether a man is called by God and empowered by God.  There must always be a total reliance on God. Verse twenty-five adds, But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.  Paul responded that he was not mad but spoke forth the words of truth and soberness.  He addressed Festus as most noble.  We might be offended if someone called us mad and defend ourselves.  Paul respectfully defended the gospel.  There seems to be too much anger in Christianity today.  The attitude seems to be that we personally have been put down or mistreated.  We need to be as Paul was, respectful and compassionate toward even those who may offend us personally, but more importantly toward those who offend the gospel.  We are sent to reach people, not reject them. Verse twenty-six continues, 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. Then, Paul continued as he spoke freely before the king that King Agrippa knew these things, because Paul knew none of these things were hidden from the king because they weren't done in a corner.  The truth of Jesus death on the cross was not a secret, though by this time, those in power may have wished it had been.  The gospel has never been a hidden fact.  We are charged with presenting it to everyone we encounter, by both word and example.  If lost people look at Christians and see nothing different in our lives, then our words will likely fall on deaf ears.  The world saw something different in Paul, and we need to live so they see something different in us.