Acts 18

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

And he drave them from the judgment seat.

Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

What does Acts 18:9 mean?

Explanation

Acts 18:9 is a verse that captures a specific moment in the Apostle Paul's missionary work in the city of Corinth.

The verse recounts a divine reassurance that God gave to Paul during a time of challenge.

In this passage, God communicates with Paul in a vision during the night, telling him not to be afraid.

The instruction to "speak, and hold not thy peace" suggests that Paul may have been experiencing some fear or hesitation about proclaiming the Christian message.

The direct command from God underscores the importance of Paul's mission and provides him with the encouragement necessary to continue his work with confidence.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Historically, Acts 18:9 is situated within Paul's second missionary journey (around AD 49–52) as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. Corinth was an important city-state in ancient Greece, renowned for its wealth, commerce, and as a cultural hub.

It was also known for its cosmopolitan society with a diverse population and various religious practices. Paul's message about Jesus Christ would have contrasted with the polytheistic Greco-Roman beliefs prevalent in Corinth at the time.

Additionally, the Jewish community in the city might have been skeptical or even hostile to Paul's teachings.

It was in this context of potential opposition and cultural resistance that Paul received the reassuring vision from the Lord.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse touches on several themes:

Divine guidance and comfort: The vision reflects the concept of God actively guiding and comforting His servants especially in times of need.
Faith over fear: The verse reinforces the idea that followers of Christ should prioritize their faith and trust in God over any fear they might face while carrying out their mission.
Proclamation of the Gospel: The exhortation to "speak, and hold not thy peace" emphasizes the importance of proclaiming the Gospel boldly and without reservation.

Different denominational viewpoints may place varying levels of emphasis on the manner and purpose of divine visions, but the common thread is the recognition of God reaching out to affirm His servants in their mission.

Practical Applications

Acts 18:9 provides several practical applications for modern readers:

Overcoming fear: Believers can take solace that God is with them as they encounter challenges, and they should not allow fear to silence their convictions.
Boldness in faith: The command to speak boldly can inspire believers to share their faith with confidence in their everyday lives.
Dependence on divine support: This verse can encourage individuals to seek God's guidance and support when they face uncertainty or opposition.

Cross-References

Joshua 1:9: "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
Isaiah 41:10: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Matthew 28:19-20: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations [...] and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek text of the New Testament for Acts 18:9 is "μὴ φοβοῦ" (me phobou) which is commonly translated as "do not be afraid".

The Greek word "φοβοῦ" (phobou) means "to fear" or "to be afraid," and with the negative particle "μὴ" (me), it is a clear imperative for not fearing.

Additionally, "λάλει" (lalei) is the present active imperative of "λαλέω" (laleo), which means "to speak" or "to talk"; the imperative mood indicates a command to take action immediately.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of visions and divine encouragement is not unique to Christianity.

Many ancient religions incorporated visions as a means for the divine to communicate with humans. For instance, in ancient Greek religion, oracles such as the Pythia at Delphi were thought to receive visions from the gods.

However, in the context of Acts 18:9, the Christian understanding of the vision is centered around a personal and direct communication from God to an individual for a specific purpose.

Scientific Perspectives

Though contemporary science often does not address supernatural occurrences like divine visions due to their non-empirical nature, some psychological studies might explore visions from the standpoint of altered states of consciousness or psychological phenomena.

Nonetheless, such studies are separate from the theological interpretation and do not typically seek to affirm or disprove the spiritual significance of such experiences.

Commentaries

Over the centuries, various biblical scholars and theologians have offered their insights into Acts 18:9:

John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, commented on the courage that this vision would have given Paul in the face of opposition.
Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes God's timing in providing comfort and support when it is most needed.
More recent commentaries, such as the New International Commentary on the New Testament, examine the socio-political challenges Paul faced in Corinth and view the vision as providing reassurance against these specific adversities.

Each of these commentaries recognizes the verse's enduring message of divine support and encouragement in the mission of spreading the Gospel.

Acts 18

Acts 18

What does Acts 18:9 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 18:9 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?