paul's vindication of his own ministry.
Acts xxvi. 24, 25. And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said ivith a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus ; but speak forth the tvords of truth and soberness.
AMONGST the duties of a Judge, there is not any one of greater importance than that of giving a patient and candid attention to a prisoner's vindica- tion of himself. But this is not always to be found, when religion forms the ground of accusation against a man. Prejudice and passion are too easily called into action on those occasions, and too often usurp the place of reason and reflection. St. Paul had very abundant cause to complain of this. He made many apologies before judges and governors, but could scarcely ever obtain a patient hearing. In the passage before us, he was standing before Festus and Agrippa; but long before he had completed his statement, he was interrupted by Festus, who cried with a loud voice, " Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad."
It will be profitable to notice, I. What was the subject of Paul's ministry —
This he himself had briefly, but comprehensively, stated3 —
a ver. 22, 23. VOL. XIV. P F
[He preached Christ as a dying and risen Saviour
and declared to all, "Jews and Gentiles," " small and great," that if they would believe on Jesus, he would bring them into the full knowledge of the truth, and fill their souls with un- utterable peace and joy Nor did he introduce these
doctrines as new; for they were none other than " Moses and the Prophets" had declared before ; Moses, in the types and shadows of the ceremonial lawb; and the prophets, in plain and express predictions0 ]
And this is the one subject of our ministry also — [We set before you, from time to time, the great work of redemption, through the sacrifice of the Son of God : and declare to you, that there is no other atonement, no other means of reconciliation, with an offended God. We direct your eyes to Christ also as risen from the dead to a new and endless life ; and as not only making intercession for you, but possessing in himself all fulness of spiritual blessings, that you
may receive from him whatsoever you stand in need of
We declare also, that no tongue can express, no imagination conceive, what " light," and peace, and joy, shall flow into your souls, if only you will believe on him, and give yourselves up unreservedly to him.
In these things we are sometimes supposed to bring new things to your ears ; but we speak " nothing but what Moses and the prophets most explicitly foretold."]
Unexceptionable as this was, we shall be grieved to see, II. In what light it was viewed by his enemies —
Festus considered Paul's testimony as an indication of mental derangement —
[Festus, seeing that Paul was a man of erudition, con- cluded, that he had lost his senses by an over-attention to study ; and that, consequently, all further attention to him would only be an unprofitable waste of time. Hence he said aloud, " Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad."]
And it is scarcely a more favourable judgment that is sometimes formed of us —
[Persons are very ready to pronounce, that those who preach and profess the Gospel, are mad. But whence arises such a judgment as this? Is there any thing in the Gospel itself that affords ground for it? or do the foregoing senti-
b Lev. xiv. 4 — 7. and xvi. 8 — 10. '' Isai. liii.
1813.] Paul's vindication of his ministry. 579
ments deserve so severe a censure ? True it is, that the pro- phets were uniformly reviled for the declarations they made : but one would have hoped, that the accomplishment of their prophecies should have secured for us a more equitable judg- ment : this however is not to be expected : as long as there remains a carnal mind in existence, so long must it be " enmity against Godd;" and whilst there is a natural man unconverted to God, so long will there be one to whom the things of the Spirit are foolishness e. We have only the fate of the prophets of old, who in their day were accounted mad alsof: and, if judged as they were, we must say with Paul, " If we be beside ourselves, it is to Godg."