Have you ever been called a “Jesus freak” or that you “think you are holier than thou art”? I recall when I was converted to Jesus, some of those who were “previous friends” thought I had gone crazy. I would not hesitate to speak about the Lord Jesus to anyone, wherever it was. I had, in the power of God’s Spirit stopped doing so many things, big and small, that for many around me was normal. I was convinced that they were sin and so I was seen as very odd, different and a bit of a lunatic. I am certain you have your story about how some people saw you as odd after your conversion. But then, what is normal to the natural man and what is normal to the man of God are decidedly different and conflicting. We shall see this soon in our reading today! Please read:
Ac 26:24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” 25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” 30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
1) An outburst from the king. Having listened to Paul’s defense, which was really a gospel presentation, Agrippa “interrupted” him. Interrupted here, in the original means a loud outburst. The concept is of “weight and mass”. So huge, weighty and loud was the king’s response that Paul was silenced immediately. Why would the king do this? Simply because of his sordid, wicked, debauched and incestuous lifestyle! In other words he was convicted of sin. The Holy Spirit was in attendance … working in his heart, exposing his sin and rebellion as a Jew against the true God.
2) The king’s reasoning for his outburst. Are you able to hear the pitch of his shouting voice in your heart? To Paul he shouts …
(i) “You’re out of your mind!” We might use such a phrase and mean something different to Agrippa. The concept here is … “completely mad, wild, raging or crazy”. The word “rave” is the English equivalent coming from ancient English, meaning, to rave or to talk like a madman. In our day, the word seems to have found it’s expression in what is known as “rave culture” … a youth oriented subculture that blends music, art and social ideas often including a range of licit and illicit drugs. If you have seen a person saturated with drugs you will quickly understand that in their minds they are “mad, crazy, wild and out of their mind.” This is Agrippa’s response to Paul’s explanation of the Gospel. His reluctance to repent is expressed in labeling God’s messenger as out of his mind! This sadly is often the response by people caught up in sin and defiantly refusing to leave that lifestyle for a new one in Jesus Christ.
(ii) “Your learning has driven you mad.” In his human wisdom, seeking to defend himself and protect his debauchery, he blames Paul’s vast education and knowledge of the Scriptures. The word “insane” here means “frenzy and madness.” True, great learning could trigger a snap in the mind. Theodore Kaczynski was a Harvard graduation in mathematics. He skipped a few grades and landed up at the university at the age of 15, earning a doctorate in mathematics at the age of 25. He had an IQ of 167 and was certified as a genius. In that year he become the youngest professor hired at the University of California in Berkley. He was awkward and lacked social skills and moved to an isolated area in Lincoln, Montana to live in a cabin. He made bombs out of pieces scrap metal and wood. He posted 16 bombs to random addresses throughout the USA killing three people and wounding 23, some of whom were maimed for life. That’s the sort of picture Agrippa was getting to when he shouted out that Paul’s learning had made him mad (insane). Where science has a sequence to get from “A” to “B”, so does Christian Doctrine. That is all Paul pointed out to Agrippa, revealing that the very Scriptures he (Agrippa) grew up with as a Jew was realized in Jesus Christ. No … neither Christians nor the Christian doctrine of salvation is insanity. It follows a logic that the Gospel of Jesus explains.
3) Paul picks up the concept the king uses. It’s almost a play on words. Agrippa says … You are out of your mind, Paul … followed by …Your great learning is driving you insane … with Paul responding …I am not insane. He is saying something like this … “No king Agrippa, you have it all wrong. My religious education has not made me mad. I am not raving. I am in the right state of mind.” There is no reason to pull back when we are told we are religious fanatics and on a self-satisfying emotional and religious trip. We need to stand our ground. Be meek but not weak. We have the Truth on our side, just as Paul did.
(1) Look how he defends his case. What I am saying is true and reasonable. The word “true” as used here is the opposite of Agrippa’s suggestion of madness. The word “reasonable” as used here means soberness of mind. Again you see his play on words. In the most subtle way he is challenging the king’s suggestion that he (Paul) is crazy!
(2) Look how he demonstrates his “true and reasonable” point. He says:
Ac 26:26 “The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
This is bold, provocative and confrontational. He is saying … “You know what I am saying is true, therefore I can speak to you because everything I said was not done in secret. Everyone knows about these things and so do you.” Then he drops the question and provides the answer. “Do you believe the prophets?” That is … “Do you believe everything prophesied about Messiah?” Before Agrippa can answer, Paul tells him that he does believe in the prophets (Scriptures). He did … in an academic sense. He was born a Jew and brought up as a Jew even though he was educated in courts of emperor Claudius. He knew and understood what the Jews believed and he was aware of Messiah Jesus, His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. The resurrection might have scared him because if this is true, there is a judgment and if there is a judgment he would need to account for his sordid, debauched and incestuous lifestyle. He had listened. He heard Paul’s defense. He understood Paul’s argument … and he was scared … sacred of the truth. We shall return tomorrow and continue what happened with him. There are many people today who would like to believe and follow Jesus but their sinful lifestyle and its offerings have a far greater pull than Jesus to them.
Our Father, safe guard us from the pull of the world. Protect us from an academic faith. Indwell us powerfully by Your Spirit keeping us close to Yourself forever. Amen.