Acts 18:5-11
5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 Then he left the synagogue and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.
8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire household; and many of the Corinthians, as they listened to Paul, were believing and being baptized.
9 And the Lord said to Paul by a vision at night, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent;
10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
11 And he settled there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Corinthian Evangelism (7)
A vision at night (v 9-10)
“And the Lord said to Paul by a vision at night, ‘Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.’” (1) This likely occurred just before or shortly after Paul moved his ministry base next to the synagogue. The Lord spoke to Paul through a vision. (2) “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent.” This statement reveals that Paul was experiencing fear at this time. (3) There are two reasons why Paul need not to fear: (a) God’s presence assured Paul that no one would attack or harm him. This promise guaranteed Paul’s safety during his ministry in Corinth. (b) “For I have many people in this city.” This promise assured Paul that his evangelism would bear abundant fruit, as there were many in Corinth who would come to faith.
The result of the vision (v 11)
“And he settled there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.” (1) After leaving the synagogue, the results of Paul’s ministry became even more remarkable. (a) Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, engaging in evangelism. (b) He also expanded his ministry to Cenchreae, the port city serving as Corinth’s gateway. Romans 16:1 mentions the church in Cenchreae: “I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.” (2) While Paul typically stayed only a short time in each location, there were exceptions. The longest was three years in Ephesus, followed by a year and a half in Corinth. Corinth was a morally corrupt city. Paul likely did not expect many people in this city to come to faith. However, God’s perspective was different. He said, “For I have many people in this city.” God chooses His own people. Believing in God’s election and foreknowledge does not make us irresponsible. Instead, it gives us the assurance that there are people in this city whom God has called, and therefore, we evangelize. If fear lingers in our hearts, let us ask God to remove it through His Word: “For I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you.”
Today's prayer
Almighty God, everything is visible to Your eyes. Please remove fear from my heart. I trust in You. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.