Look for the People of Peace in Your City! - Acts 18

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Wherever Paul went we have seen a familiar process.  He goes to the local synagogue and preaches to his fellow Jews explaining how Jesus is the Messiah.  Then, he also preaches to the God fearing Gentiles, who were usually very receptive to his message Importantly Paul preached Jesus alone, not adding anything to the Gospel.  He says this later in 1 Corinthians 2:2, 

"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucifiied."

But as a result of this preaching there were Jews who were jealous of his following, or were offended when Paul had crucified Jesus.  But the Lord was with Paul and spoke to him in a vision and urged him to keep preaching.  He assured him he would keep him and safe and that He had "many people in this city".  I have always wondered who God was referring to when he gave those words in a vision to Paul that night.  

Were these more angels who had protected the apostles before?  Were they other Christians who lived in the area? I guess we will never know. The bottom line is that God would be with Paul.  He tells him to "not be afraid" which begs the presumption that Paul was dealing with fear.  And who wouldn't be?  Paul was constantly on the run and facing resistance and harm at every turn.  

But Corinth was a place the Lord wanted Paul lay down some roots and build the church but teaching them the Word for a year and half.  I wish I could see Paul's syllabus. I am sure it was the Old Testament and Jesus' fulfillment of all the promises.  Corinth was a major commercial and cultural center and was located strategically in Southern Greece near the Aegean Sea.  Later Paul would write two New Testament letters from the church of Corinth which contains many valuable doctrines.   Paul was there for a year and a half longer than any other place he was sent to evangelize.  

As we step out in the cities God has called us to, let us remember three truths. 

1. God is with us.  We don't ever need to afraid because the Lord is with us.  We are never alone.

2. The Holy Spirit lives in us.  Paul says in Ephesians 1 the Holy Spirit is a "downpayment guaranteeing our future inheritance.

3. There are people in every city who are for us. We often call them "people of peace".  Whenever Jesus or the apostle Paul went into a town to share the gospel, they looked for people of peace who welcomed them and cared for them.  

Who are the people of peace in your town?  I guess we will never find out unless we get out there and "keep on speaking and not be silent". If that makes you afraid know that God is with you, the Holy Spirit is in you, and so are many others out there for you!