Sunday Morning Bible Study: Acts 18 — Paul in Corinth: When the Lord Says, “Be Not Afraid”
- Ken Kalis
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
“Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:For I am with thee…” — Acts 18:9–10
1. Corinth: The Hardest Place Yet
Corinth was a bustling, wealthy, immoral port city — a crossroads of the Roman world. If Athens was the city of ideas, Corinth was the city of indulgence.
Paul arrives tired. He has been:
beaten in Philippi,
chased out of Thessalonica,
mocked in Athens,
preaching alone and without funds.
Into this exhaustion, the Lord will speak.
2.God Sends Friends Before He Sends Breakthroughs
Luke tells us Paul “found a certain Jew named Aquila… with his wife Priscilla.”He didn’t seek them — he found them, which is Luke’s quiet way of saying:
God placed them in Paul’s path at exactly the right time.
They worked together. They lived together. They served together.
This is one of the great truths of ministry: Before God opens a door, He strengthens the minister. Before the next assignment, He sends companions.
Who is the Aquila or Priscilla in your life?
3. Paul deals with Opposition & Weariness
Paul preached Christ, but the synagogue resisted and blasphemed. He had seen this pattern before, but Corinth felt different.
You can sense Paul’s discouragement — the fatigue of a man giving everything and seeing little fruit.
He shakes his garment and says,“Your blood be upon your own heads… I am clean.”(Acts 18:6)
But something remarkable is about to happen.
4. Theophany in Corinth: Jesus Speaks Personally
A vision of the Lord Jesus — the risen Christ — appears to Paul at night.
This is one of the greatest encouragements in Acts:
“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.”— Acts 18:9–10
Notice the Lord gives Paul three assurances:
1. “Be not afraid.”
Courage is commanded.
2. “I am with thee.”
Presence is promised.
3. “I have much people in this city.”
Fruit is guaranteed.
Paul was not laboring in vain. God had people in Corinth who didn’t yet know they belonged to Him.
5. The Longest Ministry Stay Yet
Because of this one vision, Paul remained in Corinth for a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.
From discouragement to the longest sustained ministry of his career —because Jesus stepped into his night and spoke peace.
6. A New Leader Emerges: Apollos
The chapter closes with Apollos — brilliant, eloquent, mighty in the Scriptures — but only partially instructed.
Who completes his training?
Aquila and Priscilla, the same companions God gave Paul.
This is the beauty of Acts 18: God knits together workers, teachers, encouragers, and evangelists in His perfect timing.
Paul plants, Apollos waters, but God gives the increase.
Discussion Question
Where in your life is the Lord saying, “Be not afraid… for I am with thee”?
Share your reflections in the comments below.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, speak into our fears as You spoke to Paul. Strengthen us to stay where You place us,to speak when You prompt us, and to trust the fruit You alone can bring. Thank You that You still have “much people” in every city. Make us faithful laborers in Your harvest.Amen.
1 Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
2 We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
3 Thou hast promised to receive us,
Poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Grace to cleanse, and pow'r to free:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Early let us turn to Thee;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Early let us turn to Thee.
4 Early let us seek Thy favor,
Early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
With Thy love our bosoms fill:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Author (attributed to): Dorothy A. Thrupp (1836); Author (attributed to): Henry F. Lyte (1836)