Acts 18 · Verse 9

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:
Acts 18:9, King James Version

Acts 18:9 in other translations

BSBOne night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
WEBThe Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent;
ASVAnd the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace:
YLTAnd the Lord said through a vision in the night to Paul, ‘Be not afraid, but be speaking and thou mayest be not silent;
DARBYAnd the Lord said by vision in the night to Paul, Fear not, but speak and be not silent;
BBEAnd the Lord said to Paul in the night, in a vision, Have no fear and go on preaching:
WebsterThen the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

What does Acts 18:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 18:9-11
9-11. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. By a vision. Acts 9:10, Acts 16:9.

Be not afraid. Perhaps Paul might have been intimidated by the learning, refinement, and splendour of Corinth; perhaps embarrassed in view of his duty of addressing the rich, the polite, and the great. To this he may allude in 1Cor 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 assuring him of success. The fact that God had much people in that city, Acts 18:10, was employed to remove his apprehensions. The prospect of success in the ministry, and the certainty of the presence of God, will take away the fear of the rich, the learned, and the great.

(&) "Hold not thy peace" "Be not silent"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Then 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 Act 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 his first epistle to these Corinthians, Act 2:3 : I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 18:7-11

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 full comment on Acts 18:7-11 →

Acts 18:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΕἶπενEipenSaidG2036
δὲdenowG1161
ὁhotheG3588
κύριοςkuriosLordG2962
ἐνenin [the]G1722
νυκτὶnuktinightG3571
δι᾽di᾽throughG1223
ὁράματοςhoramatosa visionG3705
τῷtō<the>G3588
Παύλῳ·Paulōto Paul;G3972
μὴmēNotG3361
φοβοῦphoboudo fearG5399
ἀλλὰallabutG235
λάλειlaleido continue speakingG2980
καὶkaiandG2532
μὴmēnotG3361
σιωπήσῃς,siōpēsēsmay be silent,G4623

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 18:9

  • Acts 23:11

    And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

  • Ephesians 6:19-20

    And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

  • Ezekiel 2:6-8

    And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

  • Acts 27:23-25

    For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

  • Micah 3:8

    But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

  • Jeremiah 1:17

    Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:1-3

    It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

  • Acts 16:9

    And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

  • Ezekiel 3:9-11

    As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears. And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

  • Jonah 3:2

    Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:2

    But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

  • Isaiah 58:1

    Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
spake.
16:9; 22:18; 23:11; 27:23-25; 2Co 12:1-3
Be.
Isa 58:1; Jer 1:17; Eze 2:6-8; 3:9-11; Jon 3:2; Mic 3:8; Eph 6:19,20
1Th 2:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 18:8

    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.

  • 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:

  • Acts 18:10

    For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

Read all of Acts 18

Acts 18:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Entonces el Señor dijo de noche en visión á Pablo: No temas, sino habla, y no calles:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Or le Seigneur dit de nuit, dans une vision, à Paul: Ne crains point, mais parle et ne te tais point,
German
Elberfelder 1871
Der Herr aber sprach durch ein Gesicht in der Nacht zu Paulus: Fürchte dich nicht, sondern rede und schweige nicht!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Dixit autem Dominus nocte per visionem Paulo: Noli timere, sed loquere, et ne taceas: