How can Acts 18:10 inspire confidence in sharing the Gospel today? The Scene in Corinth - Acts 18 finds Paul in Corinth, a city known for moral confusion and spiritual darkness. - After fierce opposition in the synagogue (vv. 6–7), Paul contemplates moving on, yet the Lord intervenes. - Acts 18:10: “For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.” God’s Presence: “I am with you” - The same Lord who walked with Paul walks with every believer today (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5–6). - When we share the Gospel, we never step into a conversation alone; the Almighty accompanies us. - Knowing that reality dispels fear and fuels boldness (2 Timothy 1:7). God’s Protection: “No one will lay a hand on you to harm you” - Paul still faced insults and court hearings (vv. 12–17), yet no lasting harm touched him because God had set clear limits. - While circumstances differ, the principle stands: the Lord remains sovereign over what His witnesses endure (Psalm 121:7). - Confidence grows when we rest in His protective authority rather than our own ingenuity. God’s People: “I have many people in this city” - Long before Paul saw results, God already knew who would believe (John 10:16; Acts 13:48). - Our task is obedient proclamation; God handles the harvest (1 Corinthians 3:6–7). - Expectant faith rises when we remember that receptive hearts are already being prepared. Everyday Application • Start conversations assuming God is present, protecting, and preparing listeners. • Pray for eyes to recognize those “many people” around you—coworkers, neighbors, classmates—whom the Lord is drawing. • Persist, even after rejection, trusting that opposition cannot thwart God’s plan any more than it did in Corinth. • Rehearse Scripture promises daily; confidence grows where truth is freshly applied (Romans 10:17). Summary Acts 18:10 assures us that Gospel witness today rests on the same three pillars Paul enjoyed: the Lord’s presence, protection, and prepared people. Standing on that unshakable foundation, we can speak up with steady confidence, convinced that God is already at work and will faithfully complete what He has begun. |
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