Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 26:25

"But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but speak forth words of truth and soberness." — Acts 26:25 (ASV)

But what Festus declared to be madness Paul insisted was “true and reasonable.” Then he turned to Agrippa for support. The ministry of Jesus was widely known in Palestine, and Agrippa would have heard of it. Jesus’ death and resurrection were amply attested, and the Christian Gospel had now been proclaimed for three decades. Certainly the king knew of these things, because they had been done openly. And certainly the king believed the prophets—a belief, as Paul saw it, that inevitably brought one to Christ. So the prisoner became the questioner, as Paul boldly said, “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”