Be not afraid, But Speak

 73025- Compilation of Bible Study Lesson from the Book of Acts 18 KJV For Mithcah Bible Baptist Church -Bahrain Morning Online Group Devotional Bible Study and Prayer Fellowship July 31, 2025

 

“9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”


Be Not Afraid, But Speak

 

Acts 18:1-7 KJV -
1After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

From Saul to Apostle Paul,
From being a lawyer to tentmaker
Preaching JESUS is the Christ to the Jews,
And when they opposed themselves, he shook his raiment and said to them: “your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.”
Since his personal encounter with The LORD, there has been changes from his disposition, will and character; giving wholly himself to preach and to teach the gospel of salvation in JESUS CHRIST: The Redeemer and the LORD of grace. Before he was zealous that the Jews should observe the law, but this time preaching JESUS as the CHRIST and His saving grace is his pursuit.
He flocked together with believers, of the same faith, of the same goal and of the same devotion.

In this event, he is in Corinth; where he started the church of God, of which, he wrote to them 2 epistles; of which among the distinctive is this: 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Paul speaks about it.
He lived it, and taught people about it.
This must be the mark of a true Christian believer, and servant of Christ in all aspect .
The change of mind and will are obviously seen.
The choice to live for Christ is visible within them.
The composure of a true Christian believer is prominent and firm.   
It is imperative, that, to others, our life with JESUS should make a difference.


Acts 18:8-18 KJV
8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,
13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.
16 And he drave them from the judgment seat.
17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.
18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

Because of Paul’s confident, eloquence and clarity in speaking, Crispus the ruler of the synagogue believed, as well as many of the Corinthians believed and were baptized.  Paul taught them for one year and six months; thenceforth, the Corinthian church started.
Then again, the unbelieving Jews raised insurgency against Paul and brought him to the judgement seat of Gallio, but their accusation was denied and have driven them: Paul’s accusers away, turning the justice against them, that their chief ruler Sosthenes was taken and was beaten by the Greeks.

And again, The LORD has proven to Paul his marvelous power. Conveying this message to all who are called to the ministry; that, when harmful accusation arises, intended to threatens our obedience in faith, while we teach sound doctrine of salvation to the spiritually hungry and needy, be not afraid, but speak; forThe LORD JESUS’ protection with His mighty hand upholds us. if it need be in an instant, His judgement, right there and then, is ready to outpour to them who causes us troubles.


These also implied to all true servants of The LORD, His instruction for us not to comfortably settled; for He might already have been prepared for us another field, where we are called for, to serve.
We must and always be ready to take heed to the calling. However, while we are in the place where we stay, take full accountability to continue doing the LORD’s works of sharing the gift of salvation to others. For in this cause, we all are called by our Master to serve; be not afraid, but speak, in wherever we are and whatever situation we are in.
Let the LORD JESUS CHRIST be known to all before the day of His coming again.

Acts 18:19-23 KJV
“19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
22 And when he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.”

 

We also must understand who we are in CHRIST; as Apostle Paul fully understood, that in him are these inner traits inspired him and solidified his faith:  

• Convinced- Paul was convinced within himself that, while he has by all means keep the feast that is approaching in Jerusalem, he has to strengthen the disciples. He wasted no time; he had made sure every moment of his journey is counted for his ministry. 
• ConsecratedHe knew that he was consecrated by The LORD for a very especial purpose of bringing the gospel to the Gentiles: a ministry that was committed to him and him only. 1 Corinthians 9:16-18 KJV

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

• Committed – and since he knew that he is consecrated by the LORD, he made himself so committed that nothing or no one is able to stop him from doing the works the LORD committed unto him; yet never forgot to attend the especial day which the LORD consecrated for all Jews to observe. V.19-21
Corroborated – He attested, confirmed, validated his teachings about the gospel of grace committed unto him which is essential to strengthen the disciples. v.23
Compliant – his calling to minister to the Gentiles did not restrained him to observe the law of Moses; as he said,”I must by all means” keep the feast that comes to Jerusalem. We must remember that, before he was called by the LORD, he is among the Pharisees, and among the rules of the Jews. He might be a lawyer, since he studied at the feet of Gamaliel. 

This is how the bible defined the manner of Paul as our apostle. He understood the calling specifically for him by His Master and LORD; for it is obvious even to our simple understanding that His conviction directed his feet to go where he should. It was clearly spoken to us that his compassion to the LORD’s ministry outbound his mobilityoutweighed his capability and outright his comprehensibility.

May we, as the called servant of the Holy and Loving Savior JESUS CHRIST follow his footsteps, careful not to brag about, but in humility; that even in our innermost conversation within ourselves we will spend time to evaluate ourselves every day and ever.

Acts 18:23-28 KJV
“[23]And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. [24] And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
[25] This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
[26] And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
[27] And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
[28] For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

Strengthening all the disciples of CHRIST: Paul ministerial journey is not only about evangelizing people in every region his feet set upon; but to strengthen the faith of every believers of CHRIST.
That, while along his journey in Corinth, he met Aquila with his wife Priscila  from Italy: a Jew who married Priscila an Italian prominent woman. But because the Jews were ordered to leave Rome, Priscila left all what she had and joined her husband Aquila; spend some time together with Paul in his teaching and discipling believers. That they too have been educated and nurtured by Paul’s doctrinal teachings.  
That when this couple meet Apollos: a zealous and bolder in faith; speaking in the synagogue about the baptism of John only; that they expound PERFECTLY, to him the gospel. This man Apollos has become among the pillar of faith; mightily convinced the Jews.

“[28] For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”


This is how the message of the gospel propagated; Paul obeyed and take heed to what The LORD JESUS have spoken to him: “be not afraid, but speak.” That from His obedience to GOD’s calling, Pastors, Preachers, teachers, more mentors were raised, and the LORD JESUS our Savior sustained and keep sustainingthe increase.
To whom or where does not matters; for the hand of GOD touches the heart of people, and aligned them to hear His words which should be boldly preach and teach to all of the recipient of His bountiful grace.

Along our spiritual journey, we meet people who will have the same heart as we have. Likened to a fertile soil, ready to receive GOD’s words as seeds. What we believers need to have is our willingness. A ready mind, a grateful heart, making ourselves available when our LORD and Master JESUS CHRIST calls us through the conviction of the HOLY SPIRIT. Apostle Paul wrote these in Romans 8:12-18 KJV

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.


Be not afraid, but speak. Let GOD’s words be planted to all willing hearts of the people who are just waiting for us to share to to them the Gospel of Grace.

Salvation by grace through faith should always be preach. Mind not who will listen or receive. For it is the LORD who will prepare the heart of the people and He alone will give us the increase.

We just have to be ready, available and always be willing to be guided by the HOLY SPIRIT.

Have a blissful day ahead!


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