“And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, ‘Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.“ Acts 18: 9-10
As he made his way west to Corinth from Athens, Paul was disquieted that he had not left a formal church in Athens. Dionysius, Damaris, and others with them would have to be “the church “. As Peter would later write:
“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood….” 1 Pet.2: 4-5
Corinth in Paul’s day was the largest, most cosmopolitan city of Greece. If Athens grieved Paul’s spirit because of all the idols there, he was heartbroken over Corinth. The temple of Aphrodite, goddess of love, dominated the city from its perimeter. The patron god of the city, the sun god Apollo, commanded reverence from his temple in the center of the city.
From John Polhill’s commentary on Acts we learn: “Among the Greeks the word translated ‘to live like a Corinthian’ meant to live immorally.” Corinth’s reputation for wickedness was known all over the Roman Empire. Warren Wiersbe tells us that Paul had Corinth in mind when he wrote Romans 1:18-32. (“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them…..”). For us today, Corinth would be our Las Vegas, Nevada, or “Sin City.” And like Corinth, the Lord says, “I have many people in this city.”
In Rome, the Emperor Claudius commanded all the Jews to leave the city, including Aquila and Priscilla. They were tentmakers, so they made their way to Corinth. Tentmakers were in high demand in a bustling urban hub like Corinth. Providentially, they met Paul, who was of the same trade. They went into business together, during which time Paul stayed with them and persuaded them that Jesus was the Christ.
As was his routine, Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, “solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.” But when they resisted and blasphemed, Paul shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” The apostle was referencing the prophet Ezekiel, well known to every member of the synagogue: “take one man from among them and make him their watchmen, and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people , then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.” (Eze.33: 2-4)
Some heard. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed with all his household , and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized.
Paul thought he had hidden his fear under a brave face. The Lord knows His servant, and in the night reassured Paul by a vision: “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
And he settled there for 18 months, teaching the word of God among them.
Crispus was replaced by Sosthenes as the ruler of the synagogue. It was under Sosthenes that
the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat in front of the Roman proconsul of Achaia, Gallio. Gallio dismissed the charges as a local religious dispute, having nothing to do with violation of Roman law. Then they all turned on Sosthenes the ruler of synagogue and beat him in front of the court. Some years later, Paul sent a letter to the church at Corinth. In the very first verse he wrote, “Paul, called to be apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.” (1 Cor.1:1) They were reconciled!
Paul took his leave from Corinth some time after this, and sailed eventually back to Jerusalem. His Lord’s words echoed in his memory: “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you…”. Amen, Lord. Amen.
Questions To Think About:
As he made his way west to Corinth from Athens, Paul was disquieted that he had not left a formal church in Athens. Dionysius, Damaris, and others with them would have to be “the church “. As Peter would later write:
“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood….” 1 Pet.2: 4-5
Corinth in Paul’s day was the largest, most cosmopolitan city of Greece. If Athens grieved Paul’s spirit because of all the idols there, he was heartbroken over Corinth. The temple of Aphrodite, goddess of love, dominated the city from its perimeter. The patron god of the city, the sun god Apollo, commanded reverence from his temple in the center of the city.
From John Polhill’s commentary on Acts we learn: “Among the Greeks the word translated ‘to live like a Corinthian’ meant to live immorally.” Corinth’s reputation for wickedness was known all over the Roman Empire. Warren Wiersbe tells us that Paul had Corinth in mind when he wrote Romans 1:18-32. (“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them…..”). For us today, Corinth would be our Las Vegas, Nevada, or “Sin City.” And like Corinth, the Lord says, “I have many people in this city.”
In Rome, the Emperor Claudius commanded all the Jews to leave the city, including Aquila and Priscilla. They were tentmakers, so they made their way to Corinth. Tentmakers were in high demand in a bustling urban hub like Corinth. Providentially, they met Paul, who was of the same trade. They went into business together, during which time Paul stayed with them and persuaded them that Jesus was the Christ.
As was his routine, Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, “solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.” But when they resisted and blasphemed, Paul shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” The apostle was referencing the prophet Ezekiel, well known to every member of the synagogue: “take one man from among them and make him their watchmen, and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people , then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.” (Eze.33: 2-4)
Some heard. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed with all his household , and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized.
Paul thought he had hidden his fear under a brave face. The Lord knows His servant, and in the night reassured Paul by a vision: “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
And he settled there for 18 months, teaching the word of God among them.
Crispus was replaced by Sosthenes as the ruler of the synagogue. It was under Sosthenes that
the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat in front of the Roman proconsul of Achaia, Gallio. Gallio dismissed the charges as a local religious dispute, having nothing to do with violation of Roman law. Then they all turned on Sosthenes the ruler of synagogue and beat him in front of the court. Some years later, Paul sent a letter to the church at Corinth. In the very first verse he wrote, “Paul, called to be apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.” (1 Cor.1:1) They were reconciled!
Paul took his leave from Corinth some time after this, and sailed eventually back to Jerusalem. His Lord’s words echoed in his memory: “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you…”. Amen, Lord. Amen.
Questions To Think About:
- The Lord told Paul, “I have many people in this city,” even though Corinth was known for its deep immorality. How does this remind you that God is actively working in the hearts of people in the most unlikely, hostile, or worldly environments?
- God commanded Paul to “go on speaking and do not be silent.” In what areas of your daily life—whether at work, at home, or in your community—do you feel the strongest temptation to stay silent about your faith out of fear of rejection or conflict?
- Paul referenced Ezekiel 33, stating he was clean because he faithfully delivered the warning, even when people resisted. Do you measure the success of your faith-sharing by how people respond to it, or by your own faithfulness to simply speak the truth in love?
- After receiving God’s reassurance, Paul didn’t pack up and leave; he resettled in wicked Corinth for 18 months to teach. When ministry, family life, or work gets culturally toxic or difficult, is your first instinct to escape, or do you ask God for the endurance to dig your heels in and stay?
- The devotional ends with the Lord’s word echoing in Paul’s memory long after he left Corinth:”Do not be afraid any longer…”. What specific promise or word from God do you need to let echo in your mind today to carry you through your current season?