Acts 18:10
for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Christ reassures Paul not to fear opposition because he has a people in Corinth, meaning God's sovereign plan is already at work there, ensuring Paul's safety to gather them. This isn't just about present believers, but about those God has already chosen, assuring Paul that his labor won't be in vain even in a deeply sinful city.
Paul had just faced significant opposition from the Jewish community in Corinth and had decided to focus his ministry on the Gentiles. In a vision, the Lord appeared to Paul, reassuring him not to be afraid or silenced, and promised protection and success in this challenging city. This divine encouragement came because God had a specific, preordained group of people in Corinth who would eventually believe, and their salvation was the reason for Paul's continued presence and safety there.
Feeling vulnerable? This verse reminds us that God's presence isn't just a comfort; it's a shield. Learn how His nearness secures His servants.
In Acts 18, Paul faced significant opposition in Corinth. The city was known for its immorality and resistance to the gospel. Amidst this challenging environment, the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision, not with a command to flee, but with a powerful assurance: 'I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you.'
More Than Just Company
This isn't a casual promise of companionship. It’s a divine declaration of protection rooted in God's active presence. The original language emphasizes that no one would 'set themselves against' Paul to inflict harm. This implies divine restraint on human aggression. God's presence means His power is at work to safeguard His people.
A Foundation for Boldness
For Paul, facing threats and blasphemy, this promise was crucial. It allowed him to 'speak, and hold not [his] peace,' trusting that his mission wouldn't be cut short by violence. This divine backing empowers believers today to face their own difficult circumstances with courage, knowing God is present and actively working for their protection.
Corinth was a city steeped in sin. How could God claim to have 'many people' there? Discover the surprising reality of God's sovereign selection.
The second part of the Lord's message to Paul is, 'for I have many people in this city.' This statement is astonishing given Corinth's reputation for decadence and idolatry. It reveals a profound theological truth about God's foreknowledge and His sovereign plan.
Chosen Before Calling
These 'many people' weren't necessarily those already following God; many were likely immersed in the city's sin. God's statement refers to those He had chosen – individuals destined to believe and become His own. They were 'His people' by divine election and purpose, even before they knew Him or responded to the Gospel.
Motivation for Ministry
Understand the original words
eimi (meta sou) · Greek Verb
A theological concept affirming the constant presence, support, and protection of God with His chosen people. It is the basis for courage and perseverance in ministry.
laos · Greek Noun
Refers to those whom God has chosen and called as His own. It highlights the intimate relationship and covenantal bond between God and His people throughout history.
This promise of protection and divine presence came at a critical moment for Paul in Corinth, a city known for its wealth, cultural crossroads, and moral laxity, where he faced opposition but also discovered a receptive audience.
c. AD 40
Roman Colony Established in Corinth
After the city was destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC, Julius Caesar refounded Corinth as a Roman colony. This brought a new influx of Roman citizens and a more cosmopolitan, and often decadent, culture.
c. AD 41-54
Claudius Expels Jews from Rome
The Roman Emperor Claudius expelled the Jewish population from Rome. This likely caused many Jews, including Aquila and Priscilla, to migrate to other cities, potentially including Corinth.
c. AD 50-52— this verse
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
The Apostle Paul arrived in Corinth and began preaching the Gospel in the local synagogue, later moving his ministry to the house of Justus. He faced significant opposition from some Jewish leaders.
c. AD 52
Gallio Becomes Proconsul of Achaia
Gallio, the brother of Seneca the philosopher, arrived in Corinth as the Roman Proconsul. When Paul was brought before him by the Jews, Gallio dismissed the charges, stating that such disputes were not the concern of Roman courts.
This passage echoes the promise of Christ's constant presence with his followers, underscoring the divine support Paul received in Corinth.
Jeremiah 1:17-19Similar to Jeremiah's commission, Paul received divine assurance of protection and success in a challenging mission, highlighting God's foreknowledge and plan.
1 Kings 19:18God assured Elijah he had 'seven thousand' faithful followers in Israel; this passage shows a parallel where God reassures Paul there are 'many people' in Corinth, even amidst opposition.
John 10:16Jesus speaks of other sheep not yet in the fold; Acts 18:10 reflects this, with Christ assuring Paul of 'many people' in Corinth who are destined to become part of His flock.
ellicottActs 18:10: "For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city."
(10) For I am with thee. —The command was followed by a promise which met the special trial of the time. Men might be against him, but Christ was with him. The general promise given to the Church at large, “Lo! I am with you always” ( Matthew 28:20 ), received a personal application, “I am with thee; ” and though called to a life of suffering, there was for the time an assurance tha…
pulpitActs 18:10: "For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city."
Verse 10. - Harm for hurt, A.V. I have much people, etc. We may infer from this intimation from him who "knoweth them that are his," which led to St. Paul staying on at Corinth upwards of a year and six months (ver. 11), that the shortness of his stay at Athens was because the Lord had not much people there. For the encouraging promise of protection in the midst of danger given to S…
Christ reassures Paul not to fear opposition because he has a people in Corinth, meaning God's sovereign plan is already at work there, ensuring Paul's safety to gather them. This isn't just about present believers, but about those God has already chosen, assuring Paul that his labor won't be in vain even in a deeply sinful city.
Paul had just faced significant opposition from the Jewish community in Corinth and had decided to focus his ministry on the Gentiles. In a vision, the Lord appeared to Paul, reassuring him not to be afraid or silenced, and promised protection and success in this challenging city. This divine encouragement came because God had a specific, preordained group of people in Corinth who would eventually believe, and their salvation was the reason for Paul's continued presence and safety there.
Paul had just faced significant opposition from the Jewish community in Corinth and had decided to focus his ministry on the Gentiles. In a vision, the Lord appeared to Paul, reassuring him not to be afraid or silenced, and promised protection and success in this challenging city. This divine encouragement came because God had a specific, preordained group of people in Corinth who would eventually believe, and their salvation was the reason for Paul's continued presence and safety there.
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This knowledge was a powerful motivator for Paul's ministry. Knowing that God already had a chosen people in Corinth gave him a clear target and the assurance that his labor would not be in vain. It wasn't about finding the 'right' people, but about God gathering those He had already claimed. This highlights that God's redemptive work often flourishes in the most unexpected and challenging environments, proving His power to draw anyone to Himself.
c. AD 52
Paul Departs Corinth
Following the intervention of Gallio, Paul stayed in Corinth for about a year and a half before departing for Ephesus. During his time there, he wrote his first letter to the Thessalonians and his second letter to the Thessalonians.
"for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”" — Christ reassures Paul not to fear opposition because he has a people in Corinth, meaning God's sovereign plan is already at work there, ensuring Paul's safety to gather them. This isn't just about…
