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. [kjv]
ταυτα δε αυτου απολογουμενου ο φηστος μεγαλη τη φωνη φησιν μαινη παυλε τα πολλα σε γραμματα εις μανιαν περιτρεπει [gnt]
His original name was "
Mithridates". Daniel refers to him in prophecy about 400 years before, Jesus refers to him about 200 years later as a sign for the end times, and his actions led to the revolt and re-dedication of the temple during the Maccabean revolt and called "
Hanukkah".
The ancient Greek word
"ἐπιφάνεια" ≈ "appearance, manifestation".
Since Antiochus Epiphanies was a mad tyrant who considered himself
"illustrious", a common pun (not to his face) was to call him "
Antiochus Epimanes", "
mad one" as in the ancient Greek word
"μανία" ≈ "madness, frenzy" and is the English word
"mania" .
Thus, the play on words way goes between the phi «
φ» ("
f" sound) and the mu «
μ» ("
m" sound).
Psalms 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. [kjv]
μακαριος ανηρ ου εστιν το ονομα κυριου ελπις αυτου και ουκ ενεβλεψεν εις ματαιοτητας και μανιας ψευδεις [lxx]