Acts 18:10
For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city."
For I am with you
This phrase is a profound assurance of God's presence. The Greek word for "with" is "μετά" (meta), which implies accompaniment and association. In the biblical narrative, God's presence is a recurring theme, providing comfort and courage to His servants. This assurance echoes God's promise to Joshua (Joshua 1:9) and to the disciples in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:20). It signifies that Paul is not alone in his mission; the divine presence accompanies him, offering protection and guidance. This is a reminder to believers that God's presence is a constant source of strength and encouragement in the face of adversity.

and no one will lay a hand on you
The phrase "lay a hand on you" is a metaphor for harm or persecution. In the Greek, "ἐπιθήσει" (epithēsei) means to put upon or to inflict harm. This assurance of protection is significant in the context of Paul's missionary journeys, where he often faced opposition and danger. Historically, Corinth was a city known for its immorality and hostility towards new teachings. God's promise here is a divine intervention, ensuring Paul's safety so that he can continue his work. This protection is not just physical but also spiritual, emphasizing that God's plans cannot be thwarted by human opposition.

because I have many people in this city
The phrase "I have many people" indicates God's sovereign knowledge and election. The Greek word "λαός" (laos) refers to a people or nation, often used to describe God's chosen people. This statement reveals that God has already prepared hearts in Corinth to receive the Gospel. It underscores the concept of divine providence and predestination, where God has a remnant in every place, ready to respond to His call. Historically, Corinth was a melting pot of cultures and beliefs, yet God had His people there, ready to be gathered into His church. This is an encouragement to believers that no place is too dark or resistant for God's light to penetrate, and His purposes will prevail.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul
The apostle who is the central figure in this passage. He is on his second missionary journey, spreading the Gospel and establishing churches.

2. Corinth
A major city in ancient Greece where Paul is currently ministering. Known for its commerce and immorality, it was a challenging environment for early Christians.

3. The Lord
God speaks to Paul in a vision, providing reassurance and encouragement for his mission in Corinth.

4. The People of Corinth
Referred to by God as "many people in this city," indicating those who would come to faith and support Paul’s ministry.

5. The Vision
A divine encounter where God speaks directly to Paul, offering him protection and assurance of His presence.
Teaching Points
God’s Presence in Ministry
Just as God assured Paul of His presence, believers today can trust that God is with them in their ministry efforts, regardless of the challenges they face.

Divine Protection
God’s promise that "no one will lay a hand on you" reminds us that God’s protection is over His servants, allowing them to fulfill their calling without fear.

The Harvest is Plentiful
The mention of "many people in this city" highlights the potential for a great harvest of souls. Believers should be encouraged that God has prepared hearts to receive the Gospel.

Courage in Adversity
Paul’s experience in Corinth teaches us to remain steadfast and courageous, knowing that God’s plans will prevail even in difficult environments.

The Importance of Obedience
Paul’s continued ministry in Corinth, despite opposition, underscores the importance of obedience to God’s call, trusting in His promises.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does God’s promise of His presence in Acts 18:10 encourage you in your current ministry or life situation?

2. In what ways can you relate the assurance given to Paul in Corinth to the challenges faced by Christians today?

3. How can the concept of divine protection in Acts 18:10 influence your approach to sharing the Gospel in potentially hostile environments?

4. Reflect on a time when you felt God’s presence in a challenging situation. How did that experience shape your faith and actions?

5. Considering the "many people" God mentioned in Corinth, how can you be more intentional in seeking out and engaging with those God has prepared to hear the Gospel in your community?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 28:20
Jesus promises His presence with His disciples, echoing the assurance given to Paul in Corinth.

Joshua 1:9
God’s command to Joshua to be strong and courageous, with the promise of His presence, parallels the encouragement given to Paul.

1 Kings 19:18
God tells Elijah about the remnant in Israel, similar to God’s assurance to Paul about the believers in Corinth.
Truth Before the CitadelW. Clarkson Acts 18:1-11
An Apostolic PastorateMonday Club SermonsActs 18:1-17
Do the Next ThingJ. W. Burn.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthH. R. Haweis, M. A.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthF. W. Robertson, M. A.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthM. C. Hazard.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthT. D. Witherspoon, D. D.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthA. Barnes, D. D.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthJ. Parker, D. D.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthC. A. Dickinson.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthR. Rhees.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthD. J. Burrell, D. D.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthF. Goodall, B. A.Acts 18:1-17
Paul At CorinthE. Johnson Acts 18:1-17
The Value of Unsuccessful MissionariesActs 18:1-17
Faithful MinistryR.A. Radford Acts 18:5-11
God's Grace in Times of DepressionR. Tuck Acts 18:9, 10
EncouragementJames Mackie, M. A.Acts 18:9-11
God's Presence a DefenceT. De Witt Talmage.Acts 18:9-11
Paul's VisionJ. McNeill.Acts 18:9-11
Paul's VisionE. Norris.Acts 18:9-11
Paul's Vision At CorinthC. H. Spurgeon.Acts 18:9-11
The Complement to Human Uncertainty Found in Divine FidelityP.C. Barker Acts 18:9-11
The Fourth Vision of PaulCaleb Morris.Acts 18:9-11
The Light of God's PresenceJohn Robertson.Acts 18:9-11
The People for ChristJ. W. Burn.Acts 18:9-11
The Possibilities of HumanityActs 18:9-11
People
Apollos, Aquila, Claudius, Corinthians, Crispus, Gallio, John, Justus, Paul, Priscilla, Silas, Sosthenes, Timotheus, Timothy, Titus
Places
Achaia, Alexandria, Athens, Caesarea, Cenchreae, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Italy, Macedonia, Phrygia, Pontus, Rome, Syria, Syrian Antioch
Topics
Attack, Damage, Evil, Hands, Harm, Hurt, Injure, Lay, Order, Town
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 18:10

     2227   Immanuel
     4966   present, the
     5480   protection
     7742   missionaries, support
     8106   assurance, nature of
     8331   reliability

Acts 18:9-10

     1403   God, revelation
     5548   speech, divine
     8498   witnessing, and Holy Spirit

Acts 18:9-11

     7726   evangelists, ministry
     8426   evangelism, motivation

Library
'Constrained by the Word'
'And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified.'--ACTS xviii. 5. The Revised Version, in concurrence with most recent authorities, reads, instead of 'pressed in the spirit,' 'constrained by the word.' One of these alterations depends on a diversity of reading, the other on a difference of translation. The one introduces a significant difference of meaning; the other is rather a change of expression. The word rendered here 'pressed,' and by the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Paul at Corinth
'After 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 tent-makers. 4. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5. And when Silas and Timotheus
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Gallio
'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.'--ACTS xviii. 14, 15. There is something very touching in the immortality of fame which comes to the men who for a moment pass across the Gospel story, like shooting stars kindled for an instant as they
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Civil Trial
In the chapter before last we saw the Sanhedrim pass a death sentence on Jesus. Gladly would they have carried it out in the Jewish fashion--by stoning. But, as was then explained, it was not in their power: their Roman masters, while conceding to the native courts the power of trying and punishing minor offences, reserved to themselves the prerogative of life and death; and a case in which a capital sentence had been passed in a Jewish court had to go before the representative of Rome in the country,
James Stalker—The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ

The Old Faiths and the New
SECOND GROUP OF EPISTLES GALATIANS. FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS. ROMANS. PROBLEMS OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY The new faith in Christ made large claims for itself. It marked an advance upon Judaism and maintained that in Christ was fulfilled all the promises made by the prophets of the coming of the Jewish Messiah. It radically antagonized the heathen religions. It had a double task to win men out of Judaism and heathenism. Only by a careful study of these great doctrinal Epistles, and the
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul

Third Missionary Journey
Scripture, Acts 18:23-21:17 [Illustration: Outline map illustrating the third missionary journey of Paul and the voyage to Italy.]
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul

There Also is Said at what Work the Apostle Wrought. ...
22. There also is said at what work the Apostle wrought. "After these things," it says, "he departed from Athens and came to Corinth; and having found a certain Jew, by name Aquila, of Pontus by birth, lately come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife, because that Claudius had ordered all Jews to depart from Rome, he came unto them, and because he was of the same craft he abode with them, doing work: for they were tent-makers." [2549] This if they shall essay to interpret allegorically, they show what
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

Jewish Homes
It may be safely asserted, that the grand distinction, which divided all mankind into Jews and Gentiles, was not only religious, but also social. However near the cities of the heathen to those of Israel, however frequent and close the intercourse between the two parties, no one could have entered a Jewish town or village without feeling, so to speak, in quite another world. The aspect of the streets, the building and arrangement of the houses, the municipal and religious rule, the manners and customs
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Flight into Egypt and Slaughter of the Bethlehem Children.
(Bethlehem and Road Thence to Egypt, b.c. 4.) ^A Matt. II. 13-18. ^a 13 Now when they were departed [The text favors the idea that the arrival and departure of the magi and the departure of Joseph for Egypt, all occurred in one night. If so, the people of Bethlehem knew nothing of these matters], behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise [this command calls for immediate departure] and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt [This land was ever the
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Kingdom Conquering the World
Acts Page Paul's Epistles Page Outline for Study of Epistles Page I Thessalonians Page I Corinthians Page Romans Page Philippians Page II Timothy Page The General Epistles Page Questions on the Book of James Page Studies in I and II Peter Page I John Page THE ACTS I. Author: 1. Name. 2. Number of
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible

Sources and Literature on St. Paul and his Work.
I. Sources. 1. The authentic sources: The Epistles of Paul, and the Acts of the Apostles 9:1-30 and 13 to 28. Of the Epistles of Paul the four most important Galatians, Romans, two Corinthians--are universally acknowledged as genuine even by the most exacting critics; the Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, and Ephesians are admitted by nearly all critics; the Pastoral Epistles, especially First Timothy, and Titus, are more or less disputed, but even they bear the stamp of Paul's genius. On the coincidences
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I

Jewish views on Trade, Tradesmen, and Trades' Guilds
We read in the Mishnah (Kidd. iv. 14) as follows: "Rabbi Meir said: Let a man always teach his son a cleanly and a light trade; and let him pray to Him whose are wealth and riches; for there is no trade which has not both poverty and riches, and neither does poverty come from the trade nor yet riches, but everything according to one's deserving (merit). Rabbi Simeon, the son of Eleazer, said: Hast thou all thy life long seen a beast or a bird which has a trade? Still they are nourished, and that
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

King Herod's Enrollment
THE first enrollment in Syria was made in the year 8-7 BC., but a consideration of the situation in Syria and Palestine about that time will show that the enrollment in Herod's kingdom was probably delayed for some time later. Herod occupied a delicate and difficult position on the throne of Judea. On the one hand he had to comply with what was required of him by the Imperial policy; he was governing for the Romans a part of the empire, and he was bound to spread western customs and language and
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay—Was Christ Born in Bethlehem?

Luke's Attitude Towards the Roman World
The reign of Augustus, as is well known, is enveloped in the deepest obscurity. While we are unusually well informed about the immediately preceding period of Roman history, and for part of the reign of his successor, Tiberius, we possess the elaborate and accurate, though in some respects strongly prejudiced account of Tacitus, the facts of Augustus's reign have to be pieced together from scanty, incomplete and disjointed authorities. Moreover, obscure events in a remote corner of the Roman world
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay—Was Christ Born in Bethlehem?

Paul's Journeys Acts 13:1-38:31
On this third journey he was already planning to go to Rome (Acts 19:21) and wrote an epistle to the Romans announcing his coming (Rom. 1:7, 15). +The Chief City+, in which Paul spent most of his time (Acts 19:1, 8, 10), between two and three years upon this journey, was Ephesus in Asia Minor. This city situated midway between the extreme points of his former missionary journeys was a place where Ephesus has been thus described: "It had been one of the early Greek colonies, later the capital
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul

The Supremacy of Christ
THIRD GROUP OF EPISTLES COLOSSIANS. PHILEMON. EPHESIANS. PHILIPPIANS. THE QUESTION AT ISSUE +The Supremacy of Christ.+--These Epistles mark a new stage in the writings of Paul. The great question discussed in the second group of Epistles was in regard to the terms of salvation. The question now at issue (in Colossians, Ephesians, Philippian+The Reason for the Raising of this Question+ was the development of certain false religious beliefs among which were, "asceticism, the worship of angels,
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul

The Future of Christ's Kingdom First Group of Epistles the First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians Introduction to the Epistles of Paul +Epistolary Writings. + --The
STUDY VII THE FUTURE OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM FIRST GROUP OF EPISTLES THE FIRST AND SECOND EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLES OF PAUL +Epistolary Writings.+--The New Testament is composed of twenty-seven books, twenty-one of which are Epistles. Of this latter number thirteen are ascribed to Paul. It is thus seen how largely the New Testament is made up of Epistles and how many of these are attributed to the Great Apostle. In the letters of men of great prominence and power of any
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul

The Candour of the Writers of the New Testament.
I make this candour to consist in their putting down many passages, and noticing many circumstances, which no writer whatever was likely to have forged; and which no writer would have chosen to appear in his book who had been careful to present the story in the most unexceptionable form, or who had thought himself at liberty to carve and mould the particulars of that story according to his choice, or according to his judgment of the effect. A strong and well-known example of the fairness of the evangelists
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

Moreover, if Discourse must be Bestowed Upon Any...
21. Moreover, if discourse must be bestowed upon any, and this so take up the speaker that he have not time to work with his hands, are all in the monastery able to hold discourse unto brethren which come unto them from another kind of life, whether it be to expound the divine lessons, or concerning any questions which may be put, to reason in an wholesome manner? Then since not all have the ability, why upon this pretext do all want to have nothing else to do? Although even if all were able, they
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

Here is the Sum of My Examination Before Justice Keelin, Justice Chester, Justice Blundale, Justice Beecher, Justice Snagg, Etc.
After I had lain in prison above seven weeks, the quarter-sessions were to be kept in Bedford, for the county thereof, unto which I was to be brought; and when my jailor had set me before those justices, there was a bill of indictment preferred against me. The extent thereof was as followeth: That John Bunyan, of the town of Bedford, labourer, being a person of such and such conditions, he hath (since such a time) devilishly and perniciously abstained from coming to church to hear Divine service,
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

The Epistle to the Hebrews.
I. Commentaries on Hebrews by Chrysostom (d. 407, hermeneia, in 34 Homilies publ. after his death by an Antioch. presbyter, Constantinus); Theodoret (d. 457); Oecumenius (10th cent.); Theophylact (11th cent.); Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274); Erasmus (d. 1536, Annotationes in N. T., with his Greek Test., 1516 and often, and Paraphrasis in N. T., 1522 and often); Card. Cajetanus (Epistolae Pauli, etc., 1531); Calvin (d. 1564, Com. in omnes P. Ep. atque etiam in Ep. ad Hebraeos, 1539 and often, also Halle,
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I

Links
Acts 18:10 NIV
Acts 18:10 NLT
Acts 18:10 ESV
Acts 18:10 NASB
Acts 18:10 KJV

Acts 18:10 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Acts 18:9
Top of Page
Top of Page