The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent;
Parallel translations
- KJV Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
- BSB One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
- NKJV Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
- NASB And the Lord said to Paul by a vision at night, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent;
- NLT One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Lord appeared to Paul in a vision, urging him not to fear but to keep speaking boldly.
Overview
Facing opposition and likely weariness, Paul received a personal word of assurance from the risen Christ. The command not to be silent shows that even apostles needed encouragement to persevere. Christ's nearness to His servant in a hostile city displays His faithful care for those who proclaim His name.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Acts 23:11The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”
- Eph 6:19–20on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,
- Ezek 2:6–8You, son of man, don’t be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you do dwell among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
- Acts 27:23–25For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve,
- Acts 16:9A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.”
- Jer 1:17“You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them.
- 2 Cor 12:1–3It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
- Mic 3:8But as for me, I am full of power by Yahweh’s Spirit, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin.
- Ezek 3:9–11I have made your forehead as a diamond, harder than flint. Don’t be afraid of them, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.”
- 1 Th 2:2but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.
- Jonah 3:2“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you.”
- Isa 58:1“Cry aloud, don’t spare. Lift up your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
- Acts 22:18and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 18:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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