That was too much for Festus. He interrupted with a shout: “Paul, you’re crazy! You’ve read too many books, spent too much time staring off into space! Get a grip on yourself, get back in the real world!”

25-27 But Paul stood his ground. “With all respect, Festus, Your Honour, I’m not crazy. I’m both accurate and sane in what I’m saying. The king knows what I’m talking about. I’m sure that nothing of what I’ve said sounds crazy to him. He’s known all about it for a long time. You must realize that this wasn’t done behind the scenes. You believe the prophets, don’t you, King Agrippa? Don’t answer that—I know you believe.” (The Message)

Since Paul’s day, many other believers have been charged with madness. Such accusations appear, to those who make them, useful tools to push away the uncomfortable truth. Well, if we are crazy, it’s a glorious insanity. Anyway, the uncomfortable truth cannot be so easily swept away. As Paul asserted to Agrippa, the events surrounding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus were well known in the ancient world. They were ”not done in a corner”.

‘All these things concerning Jesus were clearly foretold in the Old Testament. What had happened to Jesus during His lifetime was known by thousands of people. It was clear that Jesus was the Saviour described by the Old Testament prophets. King Agrippa believed the prophets; he would know that Paul was not insane. Let Festus ask him.’ Tom Hale