Psa 46:1, 7, Act 18:9, 27:23-24 | Barnes

Psalms 46:1

Psalms 46:7

Acts 18:9

Verse 9. By a vision. Acts 9:10, Acts 16:9.

Be not afraid. Perhaps Paul might have been intimidated by the learning, refinement, and splendour of Corinth; perhaps embarrassed in view of his duty of addressing the rich, the polite, and the great. To this he may allude in 1Cor 2:3: "And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling." In such circumstances it pleased God to meet him, and disarm his fears. This he did by assuring him of success. The fact that God had much people in that city, Acts 18:10, was employed to remove his apprehensions. The prospect of success in the ministry, and the certainty of the presence of God, will take away the fear of the rich, the learned, and the great.

(&) "Hold not thy peace" "Be not silent"

Acts 27:23-24

Verse 23. There stood by me. There appeared to me.

The angel of God. The message of God were often communicated by angels. See Heb 1:14. This does not mean that there was any particular angel, but simply an angel.

Whose I am. Of the God to whom I belong. This is an expression of Paul's entire devotedness to him.

Whom I serve. In the gospel. To whom and to whose cause I am entirely devoted.

(d) "this night the angel" Acts 22:11 (e) "angel of God" Heb 1:14 (f) "whom I serve" De 32:9, Ps 135:4, Isa 44:5, Mal 3:17, Jn 17:9,10 1Cor 6:20, 1Pet 2:9,10

Verse 24. Fear not, Paul. Do not be alarmed with the danger of the loss of life.

Thou must be brought, etc. And therefore thy life will be spared.

God hath given thee all, etc. That is, they shall all be preserved with thee. None of their lives shall be lost. It does not mean that they should be converted; but that their lives should be preserved. It is implied here that it was for the sake of Paul, or that the leading purpose of the Divine interposition to rescue them from danger was to save his life. The wicked often derive important benefits from being connected with Christians; and God often confers important favours on them in his general purposes to benefit his own people. The lives of impenitent men are often spared because God interposes to save his own people.

(h) "given thee" Gen 19:21,29