Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.
Paul had scarcely touched the power of Christ's death and resurrection, the very heartbeat of his cause, when Festus cuts him off, calling him mad. But this is the expedient of a coward: by declaring Paul insane, Festus avoids both condemning him as a criminal and believing him as a preacher. A convenient escape, but a contemptible one.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 26:24-32
When they withdrew together, they spoke plainly: this man has done nothing deserving death or chains under Roman law. At that time Rome had no laws against Christians as such, only against their preaching Christ.
AI summary
when he had thus spoken, the king rose--not over-easy, we may be sure.