Paragraph 26:24

26:24a

At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul: It was acceptable for Festus to interrupt Paul, because Festus ruled over the meeting. Your translation should not indicate or imply that Festus was being rude when he interrupted. For example:

At this point Festus ⌊as governor/leader⌋ interrupted Paul’s defense

Paul’s defense: Here the word defense refers to Paul explaining his actions (26:4–22) and explaining the gospel of Jesus (26:23). Paul was not on trial at this time. Your translation should not indicate or imply that Paul was on trial in a court. For example:

Paul as he explained himself

Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul: The Berean Standard Bible places the phrase Festus exclaimed before what Festus began to say. In some languages it is more natural to have the phrase Festus exclaimed last. For example:

“You are insane, Paul!” Festus exclaimed

Festus exclaimed in a loud voice: This clause in Greek is literally “he says in a loud voice.” Neither the Greek or the English implies that Festus was angry. Do not imply that Festus was angry. For example:

he said loudly

You are insane, Paul: The term of address occurs in the middle of the spoken words. In some languages, it is more natural to put the term of address first. For example:

Paul, you are insane!

You are insane: The Greek clause here can refer to:

(1) being crazy or insane;

(2) being so excited/enthusiastic about something that the person no longer thinks clearly about other things.

Either meaning is possible here. Festus was Roman and would likely believe that anyone who believed in resurrection not to be thinking clearly or worse. Other ways to translate this clause are:

You are talking crazy talk!
-or-
you’re crazy! (Contemporary English Version)

26:24b

Your great learning is driving you to madness!: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as driving means “change from one thing to another.” Festus believed here that Paul’s great learning was changing Paul from a reasonable person into a crazy one. Other ways to translate this clause are:

Too much learning causes you to talk crazy talk!
-or-
Too much study has made you crazy! (New Living Translation (2004))

is driving you to madness!: The present tense indicates that Festus thought that Paul was in the process of becoming insane. For example:

is making you crazy
-or-
is causing you to become insane

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