Keep Speaking

Many Need to Hear the Word of God

Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Acts 18:9-11 (NKJV)

Paul was afraid. He feared that his work in Corinth would be cut short by either Jewish opposition (as it had been in Thessalonica and Berea) or by the extreme worldliness he had encountered.

The solution to Paul’s fear was for him to obey Christ’s command to speak and not keep silent. He was to continue preaching the Word of God despite opposition. Jewish leaders in Corinth would try to stop him, but they wouldn’t succeed. God said, “No one will attack you to hurt you” (Acts 18:10).

Then Paul heard the promise we all love to hear: “For I am with you.” Not, “I’ll show up when you need it most.” Christ promises to be with us all the time. He’s present, not only to protect us but also to give success in whatever we’re doing for him. He gives us purpose. “I have many people in this city,” he told Paul (v. 10).

“And he continued in this city a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (Acts 18:11). That was a long time for Paul to spend in one city—longer than he stayed in many other cities where he founded a church.

Paul must have leaned on this promise often as he worked in the corrupt Corinthian church. (For examples of their corruption, see 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 9-11). He described his preaching in Corinth as, “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2 NKJV). Paul was committed, not only to evangelism but also to making disciples. In both areas, he kept obeying Christ’s command to speak and not keep silent.    

It’s easy to become discouraged and become afraid to speak sometimes, especially as our culture grows more and more antagonistic toward Christianity. We’re often attacked—real or perceived attacks—from people or the Enemy, Satan. It’s easy to feel alone, part of a shrinking group of people. Ears refuse to listen. Hearts harden. Doors close. But God tells us, “Don’t be afraid, but speak, and don’t keep silent; for I am with you … for I have many people in your sphere of influence who need to hear the Word of God.”  

Who needs to hear the Word of God from you? Keep speaking, Christ is with you.

Dig Deeper

How did Paul support himself during this time according to Acts 18:1-3? Why did he work? See 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10. What might be the lesson for us in Paul’s example?

Read Acts 18:4-8. How did Paul begin his work in Corinth and what things happened just before God spoke to him? What discouragement have you faced in your Christian life? How did you overcome it?

For a glimpse of the corruption Paul might have found in Corinth, read another letter he may have written from there: Romans1:18-32. Do you see any of these things happening in our culture today? What do you think Paul would counsel us to do? (see Romans 1:16-17).

Nancy J. Baker

This devotion is part of our series on the book of Acts.