English Standard Version
Acts 18:9
9And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,
Acts 18:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
- New International Version (NIV)One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
- New Living Translation (NLT)One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent!
Context of Acts 18:9
7And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people." 11And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Read all of Acts 18Acts 18:9 word by word
Εἶπεν δὲ ὁ κύριος ἐν νυκτὶ δι᾽ ὁράματος τῷ Παύλῳ· μὴ φοβοῦ ἀλλὰ λάλει καὶ μὴ σιωπήσῃς,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenδέde · thenG1161
- spakeλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- the Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- to PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the nightνύξnux · nightG3571
- byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- a visionὅραμαhorama · visionG3705
- Beφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
- notμήmē · notG3361
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- holdσιωπάωsiōpaō · be quietG4623
Cross-references for Acts 18:9
- Acts 16:9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
- Acts 22:18and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'
- Acts 23:11The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome."
- Acts 27:23For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,
- 2 Corinthians 12:1I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
- Isaiah 58:1"Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Jeremiah 1:17But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.
- Ezekiel 2:6And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
- Ezekiel 3:9Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house."
- Jonah 3:2"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you."
- Micah 3:8But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.
- Ephesians 6:19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
Commentaries on Acts 18:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision - It is likely that Paul was at this time much discouraged by the violent opposition of the Jews, and probably was in danger of his life; see Acts 18:10; and might have been entertaining serious thoughts of ceasing to preach, or leaving Corinth. To prevent this, and comfort him, God was pleased to give him this vision. Be not afraid - That this comfort and assurance were necessary himself shows us in…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9By a vision - Compare the notes on Acts 9:10; Acts 16:9. Be not afraid - Perhaps Paul might have been intimidated by the learning, refinement, and splendor of Corinth; perhaps embarrassed in view of his duty of addressing the rich, the polite, and the great. To this he may allude in 1 Corinthians 2:3; “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” In such circumstances it pleased God to meet him, and disarm his fears. This he did by…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-11Verses 7-11 The Lord knows those that are his, yea, and those that shall be his; for it is by his work upon them that they become his. Let us not despair concerning any place, when even in wicked Corinth Christ had much people. He will gather in his chosen flock from the places where they are scattered Thus encouraged, the apostle continued at Corinth, and a numerous and flourishing church grew up.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-10Paul encountered strong opposition in Corinth and feared another attack (18:6). The divine message comforted him (see 23:11; Psalm 34:4, 7, 19; Matthew 28:20). It encouraged him to continue his public ministry and promised God's protection (see Psalm 91:11; 2 Timothy 4:17).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-119-11. Then spake the Lord to Paul ... by a vision, Be not afraid ... no man shall set on thee to hurt thee, &c.--From this it would seem that these signal successes were stirring up the wrath of the unbelieving Jews, and probably the apostle feared being driven by violence, as before, from this scene of such promising labor. He is reassured, however, from above.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 18:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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