At the center of Luke’s account of Paul’s mission in Corinth (Acts 18), Paul receives a nighttime vision. His second missionary expedition began with a dream of a man from Macedonia, asking him to come. It ends with another vision, directly from “the Lord,” Jesus, who assures him he can stay where he is.

Things seem calm, but Paul needs this assurance. The synagogue has rejected him and they’re plotting legal action. From the Jews’ perspective, Crispus, the synagogue leader, is a traitor who joined the opposition. The tinder is dry; the gas is on. A small spark, and it’ll burst into flame.

So in a night vision Jesus says, Do not fear. Speak. Don’t be silent. You will be attacked, but you won’t be harmed. Your mission in Corinth will flourish, because “I have many people here.”

Yahweh gave the same assurances to the prophet Jeremiah. Paul is a new Jeremiah. He suffers like Jeremiah. He mourns the rebellion of his brothers, like Jeremiah. He calls people to repent before judgment falls, as Jeremiah did.

The Lord’s central message to Jeremiah and Paul is the same: I am with you. “I am” is God’s name, the name of the Second Person, the Son, who says, “Before Abraham was, I am.” This is how God identifies Himself.

And He incorporates “with you” into His own name. He identifies Himself by identifying Himself with us. What’s the name of the living God? Not just “Yahweh” but “Yahweh-God-of-Israel,” not just “I am” but “I-am-with-you.” What’s the name of the living God? Not just “Jesus,” but “Jesus-the-head-of-His-body,” Jesus, Bridegroom-of-His-Bride.

This is the deepest hope Paul can have. It’s the deepest assurance we can have. No matter what the danger or threat, God is “I am with you.” He remains Immanuel. You’re included in His name. If He fails us, He falsifies His own name.

So, Jesus’ message for Paul is also for us: Do not fear. Speak and don’t be silent. We have enemies, but they can’t harm us. Our God can no more deny us than He can deny Himself. And He cannot deny Himself.

– Pastor Leithart