The Apostles were accounted as foolish babblers. We are no better than the Apostles, nor do we have reason to expect much better treatment, so far as we walk in their steps.

On the other hand, there is a way of speaking of God, and goodness, and benevolence, and morality which the world will bear well enough with. But if we preach Christ as the only way of salvation, lay open the horrid evils of the human heart, tell our hearers that they are dead in trespasses and sins, and have no better ground of hope in themselves than the vilest malefactors; if we tell virtuous and moral people, as well as the outwardly wicked, that unless they are born again, and made partakers of living faith, that they cannot be saved--this is the message they cannot bear!

We shall be called fools, narrowed-minded bigots, and twenty other harsh names. If you have met with no treatment like this, you should wonder whether you have yet received the gospel; for, depend upon it--the offense of the cross has not ceased.

Acts 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.