No Fear!

Acts 18:1–23 — No Fear!

During the Apostle Paul's first missionary journey, he had to escape Iconium for fear of being stoned, was stoned in Lystra and had to escape to Derbe, faced hostility even from believing Jews who insisted on circumcising the Gentiles. Surprisingly, he would go on a second missionary journey. Yet, his second missionary journey was not any easier. He was beaten with rods and jailed in Philippi. He had to escape Thessalonica and Berea, and he was mocked and ridiculed in Athens. Nevertheless, this apostle of grit and sheer determination was gripped with fear when he arrived in Corinth. Perhaps that was due to the unbridled debauchery of this pagan city or perhaps because the weight of these trials had finally caught up with him. A few years later, he would write the following to the Corinthians:


The Lord Jesus, however, spoke to Paul in a vision saying, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not keep silent" (Acts 18:9). The Lord gave Paul three reasons (promises) to not be afraid.

First, the Lord told him, "I am with you." The Apostle Paul will write later under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). The answer to this rhetorical question is nothing and no one as he will explain in the rest of Romans 8. This should comforts us as well because He (God the Holy Spirit) who is in us is greater than he (the Devil) who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

The second reason the Lord gave Paul was a promise that no one was going to attack him to hurt him in Corinth. Why did God not protect Paul before? We cannot know the unsearchable wisdom of God. We can neither presume on His goodness nor dictate to Him what He should do; instead, we should trust knowing that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Consequently, we should serve the Lord in love and courage knowing that He is a loving Father who cares for us.  Paul will write to the Romans later in that chapter, "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

The last reason was that the Lord had many people in Corinth. No matter what ministry God gave you, you may feel discouraged at times and may feel that your ministry is fruitless. The Lord knew Paul needed encouragement at this time. He must have remembered what he had written to the Galatians, "let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Galatians 6:9). The only way we can endure the trials of this age is by looking to heaven as Paul said in Romans 8, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

Are you discouraged?
Are you afraid?
Are you weary?
Look to heaven! Your trials and hardships are opportunities to demonstrate your faith and increase your trust in our heavenly "Abba, Father" who will use all your sufferings for good (Romans 8:29).