Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 266

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ADDRESS BEFORE AGRIPPA . 259 He suddenlycriedout in an excitedmanner : " Paul, thou art besidethyself! much learning doth make thee mad ." The apostlerepliedcalmly and courteously: " I am not mad , most nobleFestus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of thesethings, beforewhom also I speakfreely; forI am persuadedthatnone of thesethingsare hiddenfrom him,forthisthing was not done in a corner." Then , turning to Agrippa, he addressedhim directly: "King Agrippa,believestthou the prophets? I know that thou believest." The Jewish king had been instructedin the law and theprophets,and he had learnedfrom credible witnesses some of the facts of which Paulhad spoken. Hence, the argumentswhich were sonew and strangeto Festus, were clear and convincingto Agrippa. And he couldbut be affectedby that burning zeal which neither stripesnor imprisonmentcould quench. For a timehe forgotthe dignityof hisposition, lost sightof hissurroundings,and,consciousonly of the truthswhich he had heard,seeingonly the humble prisonerstandingas God's ambassador, he answered involuntarily, " Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian ." With solemn earnestness, the apostlemadeanswer: " I would to God that not only thou, but alsoallthathearme thisday, were bothalmostand altogethersuchasI am," adding, as he raisedhisfetteredhands,"exceptthesebonds." All who heard him were convinced that Paul was no common prisoner. One who could speak as he had spoken, and presenttheargumentsthat he had presented,who was sofilledwith theex