Acts Chapter 26 verse 25 Holy Bible
But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but speak forth words of truth and soberness.
read chapter 26 in ASV
Then Paul said, I am not off my head, most noble Festus, but my words are true and wise.
read chapter 26 in BBE
But Paul said, I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but utter words of truth and soberness;
read chapter 26 in DARBY
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
read chapter 26 in KJV
read chapter 26 in WBT
But he said, "I am not crazy, most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness.
read chapter 26 in WEB
and he saith, `I am not mad, most noble Festus, but of truth and soberness the sayings I speak forth;
read chapter 26 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 25. - Paul saith for he said, A.V. and T.R.; excellent for noble, A.V.; words for the words, A.V. Most excellent (κράτιστε). It appears to be the proper title to give the procurator (see Acts 23:26; Acts 24:3). St. Luke also applies it to Theophilus (Luke 1:3). In classical Greek οἱ κράτιστοι are the aristocracy. Soberness (σωφροσύνη); sound or sober mindedness; just the opposite of the μανία of which he was accused. See the use of σωφρονεῖν (Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35; 2 Corinthians 5:13, etc.), and of σωφρονίζειν σωφρωνισμός σώφρων, etc. So also in Plato, σωφρωσύνη is opposed to μανία.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(25) I am not mad, most noble Festus.--There is something characteristic in the union of a calm protest with the courtesy which gives to rulers the honour which is their due. Comp. the use of the same word by Tertullus (Acts 24:3). The painful experience of Acts 23:3 had, we may well believe, taught the Apostle to control his natural impulses, and to keep watch over his lips, so that no unguarded utterance might escape from them.The words of truth and soberness.--The latter word was one of the favourite terms of Greek ethical writers, as having a higher meaning than the "temperance" of Acts 24:25, to express the perfect harmony of impulses and reason (Aristot. Eth. Nicom. iii. 10). Here it is contrasted with the "madness" of which Festus had spoken, looking, as he did, on the Apostle as an enthusiastic dreamer. There was doubtless a deep-lying enthusiasm in his character, but it was an enthusiasm which had its root not in madness, but in truth.
