And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent…” (Acts 18:9)
When I first began to study the Bible and familiarize myself with Paul, I viewed him as an imposing figure – a giant amongst men. I always envisioned him as this formidable force who carved his way through territories from city to city, preaching the gospel with unencumbered bravery. Paul was larger than life from my initial observations.
I think I was wrong. Acts 18:9 has God telling Paul, “do not be afraid”. I never pictured Paul being afraid of anything! Acts 18 paints a picture of a man who struggled at times to keep going and wrestled with his fears. He preached and lived as he ought while carrying doubts and questions on his journey of faith. He needed to be encouraged, consoled, and reaffirmed.
This vulnerability of Paul makes me love him more. A man who never doubted is hard to relate to, but the real Paul makes me want to be like him when I grow up.
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites
Today’s Reading: Acts 18:1-11
Note: It is in Acts 18:5 that Paul writes 1 & 2 Thessalonians, the next books in our reading schedule.
Questions to ask:
- How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
- How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
- What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
- What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?
This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision