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Have you ever been so confident in your calling that someone calls you “insane?” I know I have! I was fourteen when God told me I was going to be an author, and everyone around me told me it was impossible. I was even called a Jew for being confident in the Lord. And yet, I’m not alone in this calling.
When Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, was called to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth, he faced similar backlash and dismissal. While there are many highs and lows in Paul’s journey of faith, Acts 26 highlights just one of many trials he faced for boldly sharing his testimony.
In Acts 26, Paul is on trial for sharing the Gospel. Though his accusers know he’s innocent, they are furious. He claims that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and offers salvation to all people. In a long-winded turn of events, Paul isn’t afraid to share his story—from Saul to Paul. He boldly proclaims that Scriptural truth and is mocked for it. He even gets labeled as a madman by the Roman governor! Talk about being ridiculed for your calling. But Paul didn’t back down. He continued to address the crowd, using “I” statements to select parts of his story that could relate to his audience, and inviting them to believe for themselves. As Paul stands before Festus and King Agrippa, Festus interrupts Paul’s testimony with these words: “Paul, you’re out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you insane” (Acts 26:24, NIV).
Paul was a knowledge-seeker, but he was also a kingdom seeker. To the world, Paul’s unshakable confidence in Christ seemed crazy—he was insane! But this madness was just part of his calling to proclaim the divine truth no matter what. Kingdom courage will always look crazy to the world.
The World’s Definition of Insanity vs. the Kingdom’s Boldness
Before Paul became Paul, we have to remember that he was Saul, a man known for persecuting Christians. Paul was very intellectual, and yet it wasn’t until Jesus blinded him on the road to Damascus that he learned the truth.
For many, believing in Jesus just makes sense. They might not understand every detail, but something within their spirit compels them to profess their faith. That faith is part reason, but reason will only take us so far. At some point, we have to make a choice and dedicate ourselves to serve the Lord, even if we don’t have all the answers. Faith is part logic and reason, but at the end of the day, it’s not all logical. Some questions are still unanswered, and we have to be okay with that. For Festus, this reasoning didn’t make sense.
Rational minds often reject supernatural realities because they can’t fully comprehend them. This is why Festus, King Agrippa, and the crowds struggled to agree with Paul’s message: What do you mean Jesus is alive? We crucified him. What do you mean salvation is for all people and by grace through faith? How can you explain Jesus being raised from the dead and later rising us to meet with Him? It doesn’t make sense!
To believe in God, share His message, and obey His calling does indeed seem crazy to this world. It’s foreign and even offensive to worldly logic. But what may appear irrational to culture is often radical obedience in the Kingdom. The question is, are you willing to obey no matter the cost?
