Supremacy

Acts 26:24–32

“At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" Paul replied, "Short time or long--I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment." Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." 

Scripture, its books and prophets all point to the wonderful saving grace of God in Jesus Christ His Son. If one believes the prophets, the Old Testament like the Apostle Paul knows king Agrippa does (v. 27), then they would readily believe in the Gospel. St. Paul echos here what the Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees, “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say (John 5:46-47)?” Bible commentator Matthew Henry reminds us all, “many trust in some form of doctrines or some parties, who no more enter into the real meaning of those doctrines, or the views of the persons whose names they bear, than the Jews did into those of Moses. Let us search and pray over the Scriptures, as intent on finding eternal life; let us observe how Christ is the great subject of them, and daily apply to Him for the life He bestows.” We must resist having godliness in form only and not of deep substance, acknowledging the Truth but denying its power (II Tim 3:5). St. Paul loved the Lord and His purpose so much so that the poor apostle in chains was thought of as insane (v. 24), but he wasn’t and we aren’t, in fact, faith in God is a most reasonable posture to hold considering the data (v. 25). Christ indeed is the great subject of Scripture, and not only that, He is the great subject of history, creation, the object of God’s affection and our hearts’ only ultimate longing; may we seek Him earnestly. May we desire to know Him with pure passion for He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross (Col 1:15–20).”