What does Acts 18:10 mean?
Paul is in Corinth with Silas and Timothy. For what is likely several weeks, , he spends every Sabbath at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews that Jesus of Nazareth is their Messiah. As in every other town, some believe but the Jewish community largely rejects his message, which means rejecting Jesus. Eventually, they "oppose and revile him" (Acts 18:6), and he takes the few who believe and moves next door to the home of a Gentile God-fearer who also believes (Acts 18:7).Around this time in most other synagogues Paul has visited, the dissenting Jews would be stirring up the Gentiles of the city, convincing them that Paul was a menace to good order. He would leave town and sneak back in later to build up the church. In Corinth, however, God has other plans. He tells Paul, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent" (Acts 18:9).
Paul will later tell the Corinthians, "For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16). The promise that he will be safe is new. In a later letter, Paul will tell the Corinthian church how much he has suffered during his ministry:
Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:24–28)God tells Paul to stay, protected, because in this vile, sinful, pagan city are many people who belong to Him. The church in Corinth will give Paul reasons for stress for years to come. But their example proves God doesn't choose the wise, He chooses the foolish of the world. By redeeming those who seem to least deserve His love, He shows how great His love is (1 Corinthians 2:6–16).
