During his ministry at Corinth, the strain of battle became evident with the Apostle Paul. He found himself haunted by fear and depression. Later he wrote of it.
βI was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much tremblingβ (I Cor. 2:3).
It must not be supposed that fearlessness was characteristic of a nature so sensitive as Paulβs. On the contrary, he was often afraid. His, by the grace of God, was rather the courage that went on braving dangers in spite of his fears.
After having left the synagogue at Corinth, the strain of meeting, week after week, right next door, with all the embarrassing situations inevitably involved, may well have caused some of his followers, and possible himself, to question the wisdom and propriety of the step he had taken, adding to his mental depression (though this step, moving into the home of Justus, next door, was most appropriate under the circumstances). But the Lord was to endorse the act again in an unmistakable way.
It would appear from several passages in the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians (especially II Thessalonians 3:1,2), that this letter was written while Paul was becoming apprehensive about the work at Corinth and that it was after this that the Lord appeared to him in a vision to encourage him.
Place yourself in Paulβs position while reading the following to appreciate its force more fully:
βThen spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, BE NOT AFRAID,βBUT SPEAK,βAND HOLD NOT THY PEACE:βFOR I AM WITH THEE,βAND NO MAN SHALL SET ON THEE TO HURT THEE;βFOR I HAVE MUCH PEOPLE IN THIS CITYβ (Acts 18:9,10).
Tomorrow he could begin the work anew, assured in advance of the outcome! Whether he βcontinuedβ in Corinth (Acts 18:11) a year and six months longer or all together is perhaps impossible to ascertain, but we know that his ministry there was exceedingly fruitful. source
