The Sanity of Christian Madness

Acts 26:1-23

In the ruins of the Paedagogium, a famous boys’ boarding school in Ancient Rome, archeologists found a piece of graffiti. It depicted a boy worshiping a crucified man with the head of a donkey. Scrawled beneath in Greek were these words, now translated - “Alexamenos worships his god.” School boys are cruel everywhere. They mocked a fellow student for being Christian. How foolish must you be to worship a crucified man? It was hard enough for Alexamenos to be far from home, but far worse because they attacked his faith. How did he fare? I don’t know. I hope he persevered. But this shows how unbelievers find the gospel foolish. What kind of a savior is crucified? How do you lose your life to save it? To be first you must be last? No! You must work for your salvation! Prove your worth! And those who believe in a crucified savior are mad. That’s what they called Paul. But despite this, he was faithful to the gospel. Paul himself said in 1 Corinthians 1:23- “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.” Today, we want to see 2 reactions to the gospel in 2 descriptions. Firstly, the wise foolishness of a Gospel-centered man. Secondly, the foolish and wise reactions to the gospel.

Firstly, the wise foolishness of a Gospel-centered man. Paul’s life was transformed by the gospel. Paul has been in prison for over 2 years. Before going to Caesar, he had a pre-trial hearing before Festus, Agrippa, Bernice, and all the guards, soldiers, and nobles. In verses 1-3, Agrippa permitted him to speak. Paul expressed his thanks because Agrippa understood Jewish customs very well. He’d been false accused of rejecting the Law and defiling the temple. Tertullus called him a dangerous man. But no charges were brought because the accusations were untrue. But the real reason is because they hated the gospel. Many false accusations to get him - but Paul knew the real reason in verses 6-8 - “I’m now judged because I preach the promise God made to our fathers; but this promise all the 12 tribes hope for. And I’m being accused of preaching it - the resurrection of the dead. But what’s so surprising about this message?” They hated the gospel - that God loves sinners, forgives and changes them, and will resurrect them from the dead. But why? These were promises made to Israel. But why should it be such an incredible thing? But this had always been the issue. 2 years before in Acts 23:6, when he stood before the Sanhedrin, he said - “of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” In Acts 24:21, he said to Felix, “touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.” Paul knew they hated him because he preached the gospel.

How did he know? Because he himself hated Christians because he once hated the gospel. In verses 9-14, he shared his past. Once upon a time, he opposed Jesus. Now, we’re not told explicitly that Paul was in the Sanhedrin, but it’s clear he was. Stephen was stoned by men under authority from Paul. He went with arrest warrants to persecute Christians in Damascus. So this highly suggests Jesus and Paul were contemporaries. When Jesus was tried, Paul was likely there. Maybe he had even been called a white-washed tomb by Jesus. Maybe he set up the woman caught in adultery. Maybe he was shamed when Jesus wrote accusingly in the sand. We’re not sure - but he knew the gospel and hated Jesus. Verse 11 says his hatred was so intense he compelled Christians to blaspheme. His persecutions were so intense that some, out of terror, denied Christ. Verses 4-5 say that everyone in Jerusalem knew he was a Pharisee from his youth. But despite all this, Paul was saved. Verses 13-14 describe how Christ spoke from heaven, saved him, and called him to do his will. Dearly beloved, that’s the gospel. God saves sinners opposed to him. He changes them to do all his will. The gospel is radical and life changing. Not only did it change Paul. It changed countless others. Matthew was a tax collector - rich and corrupt - he gave up everything to follow Jesus. This was the same with Zacchaeus - he repented lavishly. And all who were transformed by the gospel preached it.

Paul was saved to preach it. That’s why he was hated. Verses 16-18 describe his conversion - how he was saved to open the eyes of people - turning them from darkness to light, from Satan to God, sin to forgiveness, condemnation to heirs of God. And this got him into trouble. Verses 19-21 say he commanded people to repent and trust in God and “For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.” But Paul was only doing what Moses had always done. Verse 22 - “I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come!” I’m only repeating what they said - that Christ would suffer and die for sinners. And here, Paul preached to both great and small. In prison, he preached to fellow prisoners, even to the guards. And now, before the great Festus, Agrippa, accompanied by chief captains and principal men of the city - and even Bernice. They came with great pomp! But he preached about the greatest king of all! And this is what even great and powerful people need to hear. In 1 Timothy 2, Paul reminded Timothy to pray for kings and all in authority, because it “is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” The gospel isn't just for the poor and common folk - it’s for the powerful too. God wants all kinds of men to be saved. That’s why Paul preached to Agrippa, Festus, and their friends. Powerful men need Jesus!

In fact, Paul was thrilled King Agrippa was there. He was a practicing Jew who knew the Old Testament! In verse 27 Paul said - “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.” He appealed to him. Paul was in prison! Was he mad? This is the sanity of Christian madness. In verse 8 - he asked Agrippa, why is it such an incredible thing to you that God can raise the dead? Don’t you believe the prophets? Paul’s appeal was earnest and urgent - for their sake. If he was going to be sent to Rome, he may never have this opportunity again. Verse 29 - “I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” I really wish everyone here was a Christian!

But what was the result of all his preaching to these great and powerful people? We see secondly, the foolish and wise reactions to the gospel. When Festus and Agrippa heard the gospel and Paul’s explanation, they reacted out of disbelief and unbelief. Remember the Gospel is foolishness to the Gentiles and a stumbling block to the Jews. Verse 24 - “as Paul thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.” Festus was so profoundly troubled, he blurted out that Paul was mad. He was in disbelief. You’re out of your mind! Literally in the Greek - you’re a maniac! And this word maniac was used two other times in the New Testament. The Jews said Jesus was possessed and mad when he called himself the good shepherd and savior of Israel. Only a mad man would say he was God. And in Acts 12, when an angel freed Peter from prison, he returned to the disciples. When the servant girl answered the door and told the disciples he was free, they called her a maniac. And this is interesting. She was mad because she was merely an uneducated servant girl. What could she know? But Festus called Paul mad because he studied too much - as some would say, he had permanent head damage. How can a crucified man be a savior? A Christian can’t win. Either you’re insane, uneducated, or over-educated. You see, the problem is ultimatelyin a person’s heart. Why disbelief? The gospel is foolish. It was so to Festus, a Roman governor. The typical pagan worships power, fortune, and pleasure. Roman religion celebrated beauty and strength. Hercules was strong. Athena was wise. Venus was beautiful. Mars was powerful. It’s what the world celebrates - it ignores their moral corruption. But Christianity honors weakness and forgiveness. David conquered Goliath, but lust conquered him. Same with Samson. But when they repented and admitted wrong, they were forgiven. The way of salvation is not by strength or beauty, but a crucified man. Festus thought Paul mad because he suffered for this truth. It was utter disbelief.

Agrippa, on the hand responded with stubborn unbelief. He identified as a Jew and understood the gospel. But it was a stumbling block. He would’ve known about Christ. As a youth, he’d remember Christ’s very public crucifixion. His father executed Christians like James and imprisoned Peter. He also knew the judgment of God. When the people called his father a god and his father received their worship, he died violently. It was well known. Josephus recorded it, “The king neither rebuked them nor rejected their flattery. But shortly afterward a severe pain arose in his belly, striking with a most violent intensity.” So Agrippa witnessed all these things. But he never accepted the gospel. And in verse 28, Agrippa said these very sad words to Paul - “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Now, these words may mean various things. It seems that Agrippa almost believed. But different versions translate it differently. The NKJV reads - “You almost persuaded me to become a Christian.” The NIV - “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” The NASB - “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” So which? Did Paul almost persuade him? Perhaps he understood the prophecies - it made sense, but he was not yet fully convinced. Did he mean Paul would soon persuade him if he preached more? Or perhaps Agrippa mocked Paul - did you really think you could persuade me in such a short time? We’re not exactly sure. But very simply, Agrippa didn’t believe. So despite his background - growing up in Jerusalem, hearing Christians, seeing what happened to his father, being a practicing Jew, knowing the prophets - he didn’t believe. Why? It’s because the gospel is a stumbling block. The Jews valued their own righteousness and obedience to the law. If they sinned, they just needed to offer ritual sacrifice. So to say they needed to repent, and have Jesus save them was a very serious obstacle. They couldn’t get past it. If Agrippa received the gospel, he’d have to repent of all his sins. He’d have to give up his incestuous relationship with Bernice, maybe lose the support of the Sanhedrin, or even lose his crown. Following Christ would mean losing too much. But the irony is this. Jesus said he who loses his life for may sake, shall find it - like Paul. He lost all - considered all as dung - for Christ and he found his life. But he who saves his life will lose it. In the end, history tells us that Agrippa lost his crown anyway. There was disbelief and unbelief.

But we see in Paul a very high level faith - it was resolute, firm, bold. How did he respond to Festus’ disbelief and accusation? He said in verses 25-26, “I’m not mad, most noble Festus; I speak serious but true words. Agrippa knows these things. I’ve spoken freely and openly - who am I to hide these things from him? I’m not hiding in a corner.” His preaching was not secret. You see, that was a fear of the Romans. Secret societies. And in the first century, Greek philosophers used the term “in a corner” to speak of philosophies developed not in the public arena, but in secret. Why in secret? To avoid ridicule. But Paul was not teaching something secret. Everyone - even King Agrippa knew these things. Jesus and all the disciples preached openly. When Christ resurrected, many saw him. The Bible records that Jesus was seen by Peter, the disciples, James, the apostles, and even by Paul. He was even seen of over 500 brethren at the same time - if you want proof, just ask them. Many were still living at that time. He had such a resolute faith because he saw the evidences. He encountered Christ - and was changed dramatically. Similarly, to Agrippa’s unbelief, Paul demonstrated resolute faith. After Agrippa said he didn’t believe, Paul said in verse 29 - I wish you and everyone hearing me today were like me - a Christian - free! That’s how strongly convinced he was about the Gospel. And that’s how bold he was. Was Paul mad? In those days, being Christian meant losing everything. Christians lost everything in those days! Hebrews 10:33-34 speaks of this - “Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” They were exposed to public ridicule. They were beaten - sometimes for helping other Christians. All they owned was taken from them - but they accepted it with joy! Why? Because they knew better things were waiting for them. You had some like Alexamenos’ parents who had enough money to send him to boarding school - but what happened to him? Alexamenos worships his ridiculous donkey headed crucified god. What ridicule did Paul receive? You’re mad! Did you think I’d be persuaded so quickly? And yet he said - I wish to God, I pray to God that both you and everyone here would become Christians. Paul realized the chains that held him were nothing.

Even though I’m in chains, I’m free. And while you’re free, you’re not free. But when Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed! Dearly beloved, what’s the level of your Christian madness and boldness? Paul was absolutely sane in his insanity. He was absolutely free, even though he was in chains; and Agrippa was absolutely chained in sin, even though he was free from bonds. Is that your conviction? It was not just the outward evidences but inward evidences that convinced him of the truth of the gospel. Paul knew Jesus was true because he had changed. He persecuted Christians, but now loved them; he was an unforgiving legalist, but now he demonstrated grace. He was once impatient, but the gospel transformed him! He could even bear injustice for 2 years because was delivered from darkness to light, from Satan to God, from sin to forgiveness, from condemnation to an heir of God. The gospel may have been foolishness to Festus and a stumbling block to Agrippa, but it was the wisdom of God to Paul. Was he mad? To the world he was. But who were the mad ones? Who loved darkness? Who refused forgiveness? Festus and Agrippa. Without Christ, we’d also see the gospel as foolishness and respond with disbelief. And so we see the sanity of Christian madness.

Paul was so sane that he headed to Rome. He gave his life for that purpose. After the deposition, the hearers admitted in verses 31-32 that he was innocent of death or imprisonment. If he hadn’t appealed to Caesar, he could’ve been freed. What do you think was going through Paul mind? If only I hadn’t appealed? No - because Paul already knew he had to testify in Rome. Paul’s primary ambition was not his own freedom or vindication. His ambition was to preach Christ and to show forth God’s kingdom.

Dearly beloved, how shall we apply this message? Let me speak about something from my heart. I’m all for doing life as a Christian with other Christians. To sit at cafes and drink coffee; to go on holidays together; to go over to each other’s homes to hang out. I agree we should make the best of our lives - to eat, drink, and to be merry. To make the best of what we’ve been given here. But how are we living for the gospel? In what way do we live out the madness we should have? But for so many of us - in our mediocrity - we have not sustained that Christian madness and zeal we once had. Now, we look to others to preach the gospel. We look to others to live madly - while we languish in the cares of the world - thinking that doing life together without living zealously will give us meaning. Did we ever consider this - that only when we live in the zeal that Christ, his apostles, and Paul had in being mad witnesses - that we will find the greatest joy and meaning in life? And that all your current doing life together, eating, drinking, and traveling will only produce a fraction of the joy you can have? Christ died so we can be radical witnesses, living radically holy lives - but we choose to live in mediocrity - only concerned about our next holiday, how well my children have done in school, how my career can progress, how I can retire well. These are not illegitimate. But where’s madness for the gospel? Where’s burden for God’s kingdom? Where’s radical holy living? Was Paul doing life? Life term in prison, more like it! Jesus did life with his disciples, but as they preached the kingdom. He ate and drank merrily so much so that the Pharisees called him a drunkard and glutton - but he preached! He lived his life preaching the kingdom. Many of us simply hope for the heavenly kingdom while trying to live comfortably in this earthly kingdom. How truly mad we are to trade something so glorious for something so temporary. As believers, we proclaim that Christ took up his cross and we rejoice, but we resist taking up our cross daily. The gospel is good as something to believe in, but too painful to apply daily. Perhaps, dearly beloved, we need to live more radically. If your doing life together means living life radically together - spurring each other on to holy living and Gospel witnessing, then by all means - do life radically. But if doing life together is any less than that, and if you’re doing so, to find your life, you will lose it. But if you lose it for Christ’s sake, you will find it.

Throughout history, the world has considered many things to be foolish. Do we? Are we mad enough to entrust our lives to Christ? Would we be mad enough to believe that when we live out the gospel, we’ll gain our lives and lose ourselves? May we experience the sweetness of suffering through self-denial. With it comes gain because of loss, joy from mourning, victory because Christ has defeated us. That’s the wisdom of Christian madness.

1. The Wise Foolishness of a Gospel-Centered Man

A. He was transformed by the gospel

B. He preached the gospel

2. The Foolish and Wise Reactions to the Gospel

A. They stumbled because of disbelief and unbelief

B. He triumphed through his resolute belief