Acts 18:7-13: a reflection

7He departed there and went into the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized. 9The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent; 10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” 11He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, 13saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”

As Paul labors in Corinth, perhaps tempted to fear and discouragement, the Lord speaks to him in a vision: Don't be afraid, but speak and don't be silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city. It is an encouragement to keep going despite fear, resting on two things: God's presence with him, I am with you, and God's hidden work in the city, I have many people here. Paul was not laboring alone or in vain; God was with him, and had people in that city yet to be reached.

Notice the two grounds of encouragement God gives Paul: his presence, and his hidden work. Do not be afraid, God says, for I am with you; Paul was not alone in his labor, for God was with him. And I have many people in this city; God had people there yet to come to faith, a hidden work already in his purpose, so that Paul's labor was not in vain. On these two grounds, God's presence and God's unseen work, Paul was to keep speaking and not be silent, not giving way to fear. He could persevere because God was with him and at work, even where he could not yet see the fruit.

That encouragement is worth taking to heart, for we too can be tempted to fear and discouragement in God's work, feeling alone and unsure of any fruit. When we labor for God and feel afraid, or unsure whether our labor is doing any good, we can be tempted to give up, to fall silent; but God's word to Paul is for us too: I am with you, and I have many people yet. When you are tempted to fear and discouragement in serving God, remember that God is with you, and that he is at work in ways you cannot yet see, having people yet to reach. Do not give way to fear or fall silent, imagining you labor alone and in vain; God is with you, and his hidden work goes on, as he assured Paul, I am with you, and I have many people in this city. Keep going, on the ground of God's presence with you and his unseen work, rather than giving way to fear, as God encouraged Paul to keep speaking and not be silent.

Lord, as Paul labors in Corinth, perhaps tempted to fear and discouragement, you speak to him in a vision: don't be afraid, but speak and don't be silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city. It is an encouragement to keep going despite fear, resting on two things: your presence with him, and your hidden work in the city. Paul was not laboring alone or in vain; you were with him, and had people in that city yet to be reached. Show me the two grounds of encouragement you give Paul: your presence, and your hidden work. Do not be afraid, you say, for I am with you; Paul was not alone. And I have many people in this city; you had people there yet to come to faith, so that Paul's labor was not in vain. On these two grounds, Paul was to keep speaking and not be silent. Take that encouragement to my heart, for I too can be tempted to fear and discouragement in your work, feeling alone and unsure of any fruit. When I labor for you and feel afraid, or unsure whether my labor is doing any good, I can be tempted to give up; but your word to Paul is for me too: I am with you, and I have many people yet. When I am tempted to fear and discouragement in serving you, help me remember that you are with me, and at work in ways I cannot yet see. Keep me from giving way to fear or falling silent, imagining I labor alone and in vain; you are with me, Lord, and your hidden work goes on.