And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

ACTS 26:24KJV
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Acts 26:24 (KJV)

What does Acts 26:24 mean?

Acts 26:24 describes Festus interrupting Paul’s defense and publicly questioning his state of mind. Festus thinks Paul’s extensive learning has driven him mad, showing how startling he finds Paul’s account.

Festus speaks “with a loud voice,” breaking into Paul’s speech before the assembled listeners. His outburst comes just after Paul speaks about the suffering and rising of Christ in verse 23. The verse gives Festus’s reaction to Paul’s words, not a diagnosis of Paul.

The Greek behind Acts 26:24

  • “learning” — γράμματα (grammata): The word can refer to letters or writings and, by extension, learning gained through study. Festus connects Paul’s claim with book learning rather than simply calling him confused.
  • “make” — περιτρέπει (peritrepei): The Greek carries the sense of turning or driving someone toward something. Festus pictures Paul’s learning as the force pushing him toward madness.

Why Acts 26:24 matters

  • Festus’s judgment belongs to Festus, while Paul answers for himself. In verse 25, Paul rejects the charge and says that he is speaking words of truth and sound judgment.
  • The interruption also shows a contrast between the two listeners Paul addresses. Festus calls Paul mad, but Paul then appeals to King Agrippa’s knowledge of the matters he has been discussing (verse 26).

Where else these words appear

“thyself” Greek G3105 · used in 5 verses

  • John 10:20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
  • Acts 12:15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
  • Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

“himself” Greek G626 · used in 10 verses

  • Luke 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
  • Acts 24:10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
  • Acts 26:2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

“Festus” Greek G5347 · used in 13 verses

  • Acts 24:27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
  • Acts 25:12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
  • Acts 25:23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.

“learning” Greek G1121 · used in 14 verses

  • Luke 16:6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
  • John 7:15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
  • Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.