Acts 18:9
“Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
While facing opposition in Corinth, Paul receives a vision in which the Lord encourages him to continue preaching without fear.
What Does Acts 18:9 Mean?
Acts 18:9 records a moment of divine encouragement -- the Lord appears to Paul in a night vision and urges him not to fear but to keep speaking boldly. Paul was in Corinth, a large and often hostile city. He had faced opposition and blasphemy from some in the synagogue and had turned his focus to the Gentiles. In such a difficult setting, weariness and fear could easily have set in. Into that pressure, the Lord speaks directly.
The reassurance comes "in the night by a vision," a personal and intimate moment when Paul most needed it. The first words are tender: "Be not afraid." This is one of the most repeated commands in all of Scripture, spoken again and again to God's servants in moments of difficulty. The Lord then gives two commands that reinforce each other: "speak, and hold not thy peace." The positive command to speak is matched by the negative -- do not be silent. The Lord wanted Paul to continue his ministry, not to shrink back or grow quiet under pressure. The next verse gives the reason: "For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." The encouragement was grounded in God's presence and His purpose. There were people in Corinth yet to be reached. Strengthened by this vision, Paul stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
In the Original Language
The Greek "phobeo" (be afraid) means to fear or be alarmed, while "siopao" (hold thy peace) means to be silent or keep quiet.
Cross References
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
- Joshua 1:9
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;”
- Isaiah 41:10
“For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”
- Acts 18:10
Application
When weariness or fear tempt us to fall silent in difficult places, God's presence is reason enough to keep going; He often has more for us to do than we can see.