SEV Biblia, Chapter 26:24
¶ Y diciendo l estas cosas, (y dando razn de sí) Festo a gran voz dijo: Ests loco, Pablo; las muchas letras te vuelven loco.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 26:24
Verse 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 ta polla grammata 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 chap. xvii. 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!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 24. And as he thus spake for himself , etc.] 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, John 10:20 2 Corinthians 5:13) 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 Pauls case: so the philosopher 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 24-32 - It becomes us, on all occasions, to speak the words of truth an soberness, and then we need not be troubled at the unjust censures of men. Active and laborious followers of the gospel often have bee despised as dreamers or madmen, for believing such doctrines and suc wonderful facts; and for attesting that the same faith and diligence and an experience like their own, are necessary to all men, whateve their rank, in order to their salvation. But apostles and prophets, an the Son of God himself, were exposed to this charge; and none need be moved thereby, when Divine grace has made them wise unto salvation Agrippa saw a great deal of reason for Christianity. His understandin and judgment were for the time convinced, but his heart was no changed. And his conduct and temper were widely different from the humility and spirituality of the gospel. Many are almost persuaded to be religious, who are not quite persuaded; they are under stron convictions of their duty, and of the excellence of the ways of God yet do not pursue their convictions. Paul urged that it was the concer of every one to become a true Christian; that there is grace enough in Christ for all. He expressed his full conviction of the truth of the gospel, the absolute necessity of faith in Christ in order to salvation. Such salvation from such bondage, the gospel of Chris offers to the Gentiles; to a lost world. Yet it is with much difficult that any person can be persuaded he needs a work of grace on his heart like that which was needful for the conversion of the Gentiles. Let u beware of fatal hesitation in our own conduct; and recollect how fa the being almost persuaded to be a Christian, is from being altogethe such a one as every true believer is __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ταυτα 5023 D-APN δε 1161 CONJ αυτου 846 P-GSM απολογουμενου 626 5740 V-PNP-GSM ο 3588 T-NSM φηστος 5347 N-NSM μεγαλη 3173 A-DSF τη 3588 T-DSF φωνη 5456 N-DSF εφη 5346 5713 V-IXI-3S μαινη 3105 5736 V-PNI-2S παυλε 3972 N-VSM τα 3588 T-NPN πολλα 4183 A-NPN σε 4571 P-2AS γραμματα 1121 N-NPN εις 1519 PREP μανιαν 3130 N-ASF περιτρεπει 4062 5719 V-PAI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
24. Much learning doth make thee mad (ta polla se grammata eiv manian peritrepei). The A.V. omits the article with much learning: "the much knowledge" with which thou art busied. Rev., "thy much learning." Doth make thee mad: literally, is turning thee to madness.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
26:24 {As he thus made his defence} (tauta autou apologoumenou). Genitive absolute again with present middle participle. Paul was still speaking when Festus interrupted him in great excitement. {With a loud voice} (megalei tei fwnei). Associative instrumental case showing manner (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 530) and the predicate use of the adjective, "with the voice loud" (elevated). {Thou art mad} (mainei). Old verb for raving. See also #Joh 10:20; Ac 12:15; 1Co 14:23. The enthusiasm of Paul was too much for Festus and qen he had spoken of visions and resurrection from the dead (verse #8). "Thou art going mad" (linear present), Festus means. {Thy much learning doth turn thee to madness} (ta polla se grammata eis manian peritrepei). "Is turning thee round." Old verb peritrepw, but only here in N.T. Festus thought that Paul's "much learning" (="many letters," cf. #Joh 7:15 of Jesus) of the Hebrew Scriptures to which he had referred was turning his head to madness (wheels in his head) and he was going mad right before them all. The old word mania (our mania, frenzy, cf. maniac) occurs here only in N.T. Note unusual position of se between polla and grammata (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 418, 420)
