But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
Paul speaks these words while imprisoned for the gospel, using his hearing to set out the reasons for his faith before King Agrippa and the leading men of Caesarea. When Festus interrupts to call him mad, he calmly and respectfully answers that he is not mad. By truth and soberness he means that his testimony about Christ is true, sound and reasonable, spoken with sound judgment and not from delusion or unbalanced learning. That testimony comes from firm conviction, declaring Jesus as the Son of God whose suffering, death, resurrection and ascension fulfill prophecy and bring forgiveness and light to both Jews and Gentiles. His dignified, courteous and composed answer stands as the pattern for all God's messengers, who are to keep self out of sight and exalt Christ in words of reason and good sense that the Holy Spirit uses to stir hearts to ponder their truth.
Paul's Answer to Festus
Paul was imprisoned for the gospel, and the saying comes as he defends that gospel by using his opportunity to present the reasons for his faith before King Agrippa and the principal men of Caesarea, before kings and governors. When Festus charged that he was mad, he calmly and respectfully rejected the charge, answering with deference as to most noble Festus.
By words of truth and soberness he meant that his testimony about Christ was true and sound, reasonable and spoken with sound judgment. It was not the product of madness or delusion, nor of excessive learning overturning the mind. His reply to the ruler was therefore firm in affirming truth while courteous and persuasive in manner.
That reasoned testimony came from firm conviction about Jesus and about his own conversion. He declared Jesus to be the Son of God, whose rejection, death, resurrection, and ascension fulfilled the prophetic message. Through Him forgiveness and light come to both Jews and Gentiles, a truth Paul pressed with zeal and with the power of the Holy Spirit so that hearers were persuaded.
Model for God's Messengers
Paul's answer is a model of dignified, respectful and composed courtesy combined with persuasive eloquence. His courtesy in answering a ruler while firmly affirming truth was not merely formal politeness but came from genuine kindness of heart. In defending the gospel for which he was imprisoned, he brought it before rulers and nobles. That presentation before princes foreshadowed how the gospel would later be proclaimed before the princes and lords of the empire.
God's messengers everywhere are to follow that pattern by speaking words of truth and soberness as they deliver God's warning message to people. Those words are words of reason and good sense. True ministry speaks them by keeping self out of sight and letting Christ appear, for the exaltation of Christ is the great truth to be revealed by all who labor in word and doctrine. When such sensible and true words are spoken, men and women are stirred to take hold of thoughts that are strange and new and to muse on their truth in their hearts, and every such thought is the result of the Holy Spirit working on the human mind.
Paul speaks these words while imprisoned for the gospel, using his hearing to set out the reasons for his faith before King Agrippa and the leading men of Caesarea. When Festus interrupts to call him mad, he calmly and respectfully answers that he is not mad. By truth and soberness he means that his testimony about Christ is true, sound and reasonable, spoken with sound judgment and not from delusion or unbalanced learning. That testimony comes from firm conviction, declaring Jesus as the Son of God whose suffering, death, resurrection and ascension fulfill prophecy and bring forgiveness and light to both Jews and Gentiles. His dignified, courteous and composed answer stands as the pattern for all God's messengers, who are to keep self out of sight and exalt Christ in words of reason and good sense that the Holy Spirit uses to stir hearts to ponder their truth.
Paul's Answer to Festus
Paul was imprisoned for the gospel, and the saying comes as he defends that gospel by using his opportunity to present the reasons for his faith before King Agrippa and the principal men of Caesarea, before kings and governors. When Festus charged that he was mad, he calmly and respectfully rejected the charge, answering with deference as to most noble Festus.
By words of truth and soberness he meant that his testimony about Christ was true and sound, reasonable and spoken with sound judgment. It was not the product of madness or delusion, nor of excessive learning overturning the mind. His reply to the ruler was therefore firm in affirming truth while courteous and persuasive in manner.
That reasoned testimony came from firm conviction about Jesus and about his own conversion. He declared Jesus to be the Son of God, whose rejection, death, resurrection, and ascension fulfilled the prophetic message. Through Him forgiveness and light come to both Jews and Gentiles, a truth Paul pressed with zeal and with the power of the Holy Spirit so that hearers were persuaded.
Model for God's Messengers
Paul's answer is a model of dignified, respectful and composed courtesy combined with persuasive eloquence. His courtesy in answering a ruler while firmly affirming truth was not merely formal politeness but came from genuine kindness of heart. In defending the gospel for which he was imprisoned, he brought it before rulers and nobles. That presentation before princes foreshadowed how the gospel would later be proclaimed before the princes and lords of the empire.
God's messengers everywhere are to follow that pattern by speaking words of truth and soberness as they deliver God's warning message to people. Those words are words of reason and good sense. True ministry speaks them by keeping self out of sight and letting Christ appear, for the exaltation of Christ is the great truth to be revealed by all who labor in word and doctrine. When such sensible and true words are spoken, men and women are stirred to take hold of thoughts that are strange and new and to muse on their truth in their hearts, and every such thought is the result of the Holy Spirit working on the human mind.