Keep Speaking
“Do not be afraid: keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you…”
Acts 18: 9 - 10a NIV
Have you ever been in a situation where people, even friends, brought unfounded accusations against you? It is a horrible feeling. How did you respond? Did you try to defend yourself or did you allow the Lord to be your defender? How we respond in these situations says a lot about our character and who we trust to be our defender.
We see an example of this with Paul in the book of Acts. In chapter 18, we see that Paul left Athens and headed to Corinth. There he met a couple named Aquila and Priscilla, who were fellow tent makers. Paul stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath, Paul would go to the synagogue and speak the gospel to the Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Corinth, he worked daily at sharing the gospel with the community. Many Jews opposed Paul and even became abusive towards him. Paul, “shook out his clothes” and cleared himself from the responsibility to share the gospel with them, stating that He was going to focus on sharing with the Gentiles.
“Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard hom believed and were baptized.”
Acts 18: 7-8 NIV
Because Paul did not let the rejection from the Jews stop him from sharing the good news, many were saved! He was doing a good work. He was being obedient to the calling Christ gave him. He stayed in Corinth for a year and a half and the whole time, the Jews were getting even more irritated and aggravated with Paul, to the point that they made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court.
“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Acts 18: 9-10 NIV
After the physical attacks from the Jews, I bet this vision and word from God was very comforting and gave him courage to keep going in his Kingdom work. As the Jews, led by the current synagogue leader Sosthenes, took Paul to court, they charged him with “persuading people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” Gallio basically told the Jews that the charges they were bringing against Paul were unfounded and to settle it amongst themselves. They were then ejected from the court and immediately, the Jews turned against Sosthenes and beat him right in front of the court.
Paul might have witnessed this event, and even had compassion on Sosthenes, the one who brought charges against him. Paul knew what it was like to be beaten by the Jews, but now they were turning on one of their own, their leader, because they didn’t get what they wanted. One thing we know is that Paul continued to spread the gospel of Jesus. He kept on speaking the message God gave him, answering the calling placed on his life, and because of this, added to the number of believers in Corinth, including Sosthenes.
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes.”
I Corinthians 1:1 NIV
So what do we do with this truth? Like Paul, we will face moments of opposition, misunderstanding, and even false accusations. Are you willing to speak the truth in love in difficult circumstances? Are you willing to share the gospel even though you may be taken as a joke or offense to someone? The call is not to retreat into silence or self-defense, but to trust God as our defender and remain faithful to the assignment He has given us. God’s words to Paul are also His words to us: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you.” We are invited to examine our own response, will we allow rejection to redirect us away from obedience, or will we keep speaking truth, loving people, and trusting God to work beyond what we can see? Your obedience may be the very thing God uses to reach someone you never expected.
Paul’s story reminds us that God is always at work, even in the middle of conflict and opposition. What looked like rejection became redirection, and what felt like attack became opportunity for the gospel to spread. Paul did not stop speaking, because he trusted the presence and promise of God more than the opinions or actions of people. And in the end, we see the beautiful redemption of Sosthenes, proof that God can transform hearts we never thought possible. When we remain faithful, courageous, and obedient, God does far more than we could ever imagine, bringing life, salvation, and restoration through our willingness to keep going.
Prayer
Take some time today to lift these prayers before the Lord, and then sit quietly, letting Him speak to your heart.
Pray for courage and obedience - to keep speaking truth, even when we feel rejected or misunderstood.
Pray for faith over fear - to walk confidently in the calling God placed on your life, knowing He is at work beyond what we can see.
Pray for redeemed hearts of those who misunderstand you - for God to use your obedience to draw others to Himself for His glory and kingdom purposes.
“No weapon forged against you will prevail. And you will refute every tongue that accuses you.”
Isaiah 54:17a
