Acts 18:9

Then spake the Lord. Or, “And the Lord said.” Here is another vision given to Paul. Apparently, judging from the Lord’s words, for some reason the apostle was losing his courage and was in danger of bodily harm. Paul received this message in the same way that he did the Macedonian call (ch. 16:9, 19), but here the Lord Himself appeared to His servant. Visions from God were given to him in various great crises of his life. He had first seen the Lord Jesus at the time of his conversion (ch. 9:4-6; cf. AA 115). He later heard the same voice and saw the same form in his vision in the Temple at Jerusalem (ch. 22:17-21). Now he both saw and heard his Lord once more. Be not afraid. Or, “Stop being afraid.” The words imply that Paul was at the moment in some fear and depression, and felt heavily the burden of the task he was attempting for his Lord. For the most part his converts were from the class of slaves or freedmen; those of a culture corresponding to his own, whether Greeks or Jews, seemed slow to accept his preaching (cf. 1 Cor. 1:26, 27). Undoubtedly he was also in personal physical danger. He had already seen the reviling of the Jews break out in physical violence. It could easily happen again. Graciously the Lord addressed him with the words, “Stop being afraid.” Speak. Or, “keep on speaking.” Hold not thy peace. Or, “do not begin to keep silent.” The temptation at a moment of weakness was to take safety in silence when words seemed fruitless. But this was an exhortation to him to preach even more constantly than before. Nothing must stop Paul’s testimony. Elijah had passed through a like crisis of discouragement (1 Kings 19:4-14), and Jeremiah also more than once (Jer. 1:6-8; 15:15-21).