Acts 18 10

Acts 18:10 kjv

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 nkjv

for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."

Acts 18:10 niv

For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."

Acts 18:10 esv

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."

Acts 18:10 nlt

For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me."

Acts 18 verses

Acts 18 10 Meaning

Acts 18:10 is a divine assurance from the Lord Jesus to the Apostle Paul, revealed through a night vision in Corinth. It directly addresses Paul's apprehension and commands him not to fear, promising God's unwavering presence, guaranteed protection from hostile attacks that seek to truly harm him, and revealing God's sovereign knowledge that many people in Corinth were destined for salvation through his ministry. This revelation serves as a profound encouragement for Paul to continue boldly proclaiming the Gospel despite opposition.

Acts 18 10 Context

Acts chapter 18 opens with Paul's arrival in Corinth, a highly influential, wealthy, and notoriously immoral city known for its idolatry and promiscuity in the Roman Empire. Initially, Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, attempting to persuade both Jews and Greeks. However, when met with fierce Jewish opposition and blasphemy, he dramatically declared his intent to turn to the Gentiles (Acts 18:6). He then moved his ministry to the adjacent house of Titius Justus, a Gentile proselyte who worshipped God, and Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with his entire household. This shift and the opposition seem to have brought discouragement to Paul, as evidenced by the divine vision and reassurance he receives in Acts 18:9-10. This direct, personal intervention from the Lord encourages Paul to remain in Corinth and continue his work, ensuring his safety and foretelling a great spiritual harvest. Following this, Paul ministered in Corinth for a significant period of eighteen months.

Acts 18 10 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): This conjunction introduces the divine rationale or reason behind the Lord's preceding command to Paul in Acts 18:9, "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent." It links the command to the subsequent promises of presence, protection, and people.
• I (ἐγώ - egō): The emphatic personal pronoun stresses the divine speaker – the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It highlights the direct and authoritative source of the comfort and command, distinguishing this voice from Paul's own anxieties or any human source.
• am with you (εἰμι μετὰ σοῦ - eimi meta sou): A profound and recurring covenantal promise throughout biblical history. It signifies not merely spiritual proximity but an active, enabling, and supportive presence. For Paul, it meant the Lord's power, authority, and partnership in his challenging ministry were personally guaranteed.
• and no one (καὶ οὐδεὶς - kai oudeis): The conjunction "and" links this promise to the previous one of divine presence, showing it's a consequence. "No one" is a strong negation, implying absolute assurance regarding human opposition.
• will attack you (ἐπιθήσεται σοί - epithesētai soi): "Epithēsētai" implies an aggressive assault or laying hands upon with hostile intent. This is a promise of divine immunity from physical, violent attacks designed to impede or end Paul's ministry in Corinth.
• to harm you (τοῦ κακῶσαί σε - tou kakōsai se): A purpose clause defining the intent of any attack. "Kakōsai" means to do evil, treat badly, or injure. The Lord assures Paul that even if he faces opposition, it will not ultimately result in destructive harm that thwarts his divinely appointed mission during this period in Corinth.
• for I have (διότι ἔχω - dioti echō): Another causal conjunction, providing the ultimate reason for God's presence and protection. "Echō" denotes possession or control. It highlights God's sovereign plan and prior knowledge.
• many people (λαὸς πολύς - laos polys): "Laos" refers to a people, nation, or a collective group; "polys" means abundant or many. This refers to those whom God, in His sovereign foreknowledge, intended to bring to salvation in Corinth. It implies a significant spiritual harvest, indicating a pre-ordained elect people waiting to respond to the Gospel through Paul's continued ministry. It does not refer to existing believers only, but those whom God possessed (knew and ordained) to call.
• in this city (ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ - en tē polei tautē): The specific geographical identifier emphasizes that this divine plan and purpose were firmly located in the very place where Paul faced his current discouragement and opposition – Corinth.

Words-group analysis:

• "I am with you": This foundational promise undergirds all subsequent assurances. God's presence is not passive; it is an active, empowering reality that forms the bedrock for Paul's courage to obey the command not to fear or be silent. It transforms fear into confidence, relying not on personal strength but on divine companionship.
• "no one will attack you to harm you": This promise assures Paul of divine physical protection specifically against successful hostile actions that would undermine his life or ministry. It doesn't mean the absence of any trouble, but rather an absolute guarantee that no opposition would succeed in permanently halting God's work through him in Corinth. This sustained protection allowed him to remain for eighteen months, establishing a robust church.
• "for I have many people in this city": This reveals God's ultimate motivation and purpose for Paul's continued ministry. It speaks to God's election and predestined plan of salvation. The "many people" were not necessarily converts already, but those chosen by God, whom He knew would come to faith through Paul's preaching. This divine foreknowledge served as the strongest antidote to Paul's discouragement, shifting his focus from visible opposition to God's invisible and assured harvest. It validated the spiritual fertility of an otherwise seemingly wicked city.

Acts 18 10 Bonus section

• The sequence of thought in Acts 18:9-10 is significant: God's imperatives ("Do not be afraid, but speak...") are immediately followed by God's indicatives ("For I am with you, and no one... I have many people..."). This illustrates a core biblical principle: God's commands are empowered by His promises. Our obedience is rooted in His enabling grace and guaranteed outcomes.
• This specific instance highlights the very human vulnerability of Paul; even this great apostle experienced fear and moments of deep discouragement. God does not demand fearlessness from us without providing the divine strength and promises to overcome it.
• The promise "I have many people in this city" speaks profoundly of divine election and irresistible grace. It signifies that God is actively working in the hearts of individuals even before they hear or respond to the Gospel. It is God's initiative, and His foreordained plan ensures a harvest regardless of outward circumstances.
• The promise of protection applied specifically to this period of establishing the church in Corinth. Paul continued his ministry there for 18 months without succumbing to fatal harm or expulsion due to the opposition, a direct fulfillment of the divine word. While Paul faced trials elsewhere, this unique guarantee for Corinth served its immediate purpose perfectly.

Acts 18 10 Commentary

Acts 18:10 represents a critical turning point in Paul's second missionary journey, deeply rooted in divine intervention and grace. Paul, a man subject to human frailties, experienced deep discouragement and fear amidst fierce opposition in Corinth's hostile environment. The Lord Jesus' direct appearance was not a mere encouraging word, but a series of profound, actionable divine assurances. First, God affirmed His personal and active presence, echoing ancient covenant promises that were the source of strength for patriarchs and prophets. This assurance counters any feeling of isolation or abandonment Paul might have felt. Second, the Lord promised complete divine protection, ensuring that no physical or malevolent attack would succeed in harming Paul's life or his vital mission in Corinth. This divine safeguard was paramount, allowing Paul to remain undeterred by external threats. Third, and most crucially, the Lord revealed His sovereign hand in salvation: there was a significant, albeit yet uncalled, spiritual harvest awaiting in Corinth. This prophetic revelation provided a compelling, kingdom-driven reason for Paul to persist. The divine foreknowledge of "many people" serves as the ultimate guarantee that Paul's labor would not be in vain, empowering him to overcome his personal fears and fulfill God's salvific purpose in a city known for its depravity. This passage fundamentally instructs believers that our obedience and perseverance in ministry are empowered by God's promises of presence, protection, and sovereign purpose, regardless of the daunting challenges or spiritual darkness we might face.