Acts 18:9
What does Acts 18:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 18:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 18:9 means
In the night, the Lord speaks to Paul: “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not be silent.” The command addresses real fears—opposition, weariness, potential violence. God meets His servant with timely encouragement, urging persistent proclamation. Ministry courage is not self-generated; it flows from the Lord’s word. The order to keep speaking assumes the message remains the same: Christ crucified and risen, offered to all. This vision dignifies Paul’s ordinary labors with divine endorsement. When doors open, workers may still wobble; God steadies them. Assurance does not remove effort, but it transforms it—silencing fear and sustaining faithful witness in a hard city.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the Lord said to Paul in the night, in a vision, Have no fear and go on preaching:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the Lord said through a vision in the night to Paul, `Be not afraid, but be speaking and thou mayest be not silent;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the Lord said to Paul in the night, by a vision: Do not fear, but speak. And hold not thy peace,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the Lord said by vision in [the] night to Paul, Fear not, but speak and be not silent;
Context
Following notable conversions, Paul still needs encouragement. Verse 9 begins a two-verse vision that anchors his next season in Corinth. The promise in verse 10 will ground the command not to fear: God’s presence, protection, and purpose. This reassurance explains why, despite hostility, Paul remains for an unusually long period. The narrative is moving toward a legal challenge under Gallio, where the Lord’s promise of safety will prove true.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 16:9
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
- Isaiah 58:1
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and declare unto my people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Ezekiel 3:9
As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
- Micah 3:8
But as for me, I am full of power by the Spirit of Jehovah, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
- Ezekiel 2:6
And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
- Ephesians 6:19
and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
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