Acts 18:7-11 (NIV)
Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
Paul was right in the center of God’s will working in Corinth. He had good success, converting both Gentiles and Jews, including Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household, both family and servants. And his success was not limited just to those who gathered in the synagogue. As in Athens, he preached the good news of the kingdom even in the marketplaces.
But there was strong opposition from the Jews who had rejected Jesus, which made Paul a bit nervous. That’s entirely understandable. Paul had been whipped, beaten, ridden out of town on a rail, and even stoned over the course of his two mission trips. He was no masochist who enjoyed suffering. He would go through suffering if, and only if, it was unavoidable or would help to move the kingdom forward.
To encourage him in the midst of his concern, Jesus appeared to him in a vision. His message was short, direct, and simple: Paul needed to keep speaking, keep pushing the message of the kingdom forward, and not be silent. Jesus would be with him and would protect him. The harvest in the city was plentiful and was waiting for Paul to reap it.
Paul took the message immediately to heart. He moved forward boldly, preaching to and teaching the people of the city about Jesus and the kingdom of God, forming those who believed into a strong Church, and raising up and training leaders, in a ministry to Corinth which lasted for a year and a half.
Father, it is comforting to realize that even Paul needed a word of encouragement from time to time, and that when he needed one, You provided it. But it is also challenging to see that, once he had that word of confirmation and encouragement, he moved forward with passion and power into the harvest and worked consistently for days, weeks, and even years. Help me to have that same passion to do all that You have called me to do, every day, for as long as You call me to do it. Amen.
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