John Calvin Commentary Acts 18:10

"for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee: for I have much people in this city." — Acts 18:10 (ASV)

Because I am. This is the first reason why Paul, having subdued fear, must courageously and resolutely do his duty: because he has God on his side. To which corresponds the rejoicing of David:

“If I shall walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I shall fear no ill: because you are with me” (Psalms 23:4).

Again,

“If tents are pitched about me,” etc. (Psalms 27:3).

The question is, did he not perceive that God was present with him elsewhere, as he had experienced His help in various places? For the promise is general:

“I am with you until the end of the world,” (Matthew 28:20).

Nor is it lawful for us to mistrust, as often as we obey His calling, that He will be present with us. But it is a usual thing for the Lord to apply to specific situations, when the matter so requires, what He has promised to do in all affairs; and we know that when we come to the critical moment, then we are most desirous of help.

Moreover, these two elements are joined together: “I am with you, and no man shall hurt you.” For it sometimes happens that God does help us, and yet He, to all appearances, allows us to be oppressed, as He did not forsake Paul even in the face of death. And here He promises the special defense of His hand, by which Paul will be preserved from the violence of his enemies.

But the question is, whether Paul needed any such confirmation, who should have been willing to undergo all kinds of dangers. For what if he had been destined to suffer death? Should he therefore have fainted through fear?

I answer that if at any time God declares that His servants will be safe for a time, that does not at all hinder them from preparing themselves to suffer death bravely. But just as we distinguish between what is profitable and what is necessary, so we must note that there are some promises which, if the faithful lack them, they would inevitably faint and sink down.

And others are added when it is expedient, which, though they are taken away (because the grace of God nevertheless remains firm and sure), the faith of the godly does not fail.

In this way, Paul is commanded not to fear, because his enemies will not touch him. And if he should have been oppressed even then by their violence, yet he would not have been afraid; but God intended his boldness and courage to increase precisely because he would be without danger.

If at any time the Lord bears with us to such an extent, we are not to despise such comfort for our weakness. Meanwhile, let this be sufficient for us to trample underfoot all corrupt fear of the flesh: that as long as we fight under His banner, we cannot be forsaken by Him.

And when it is said, “No man shall oppose you to do you hurt,” the Lord does not mean that Paul will be free from the violence and tumult with which the Jews afterward lethally attacked him. But His meaning is that their attempts will be frustrated, because the Lord had determined to deliver him from their hands. Therefore, we must fight resolutely so that we may win the victory.

Because I have much people. The second reason why he should take heart is because the Lord will raise up a large and populous church there.

However, it is doubtful whether this part depends on what immediately precedes it. For the text could appropriately be read as follows: Because the Lord determined to gather a great church by the hand of Paul, He would not allow the enemies to interrupt the course of his labors.

It is as if He had said, ‘I will help you, so that you may not fail My people whose minister I have appointed you to be.’

I willingly embrace this interpretation: that various reasons are not introduced to be read separately, but rather that they are so distinguished that they harmonize.

Furthermore, the Lord calls those His people who, though they might then for good reasons be considered strangers, yet because they were written in the book of life and were soon to be admitted into His family, are not improperly given this title.

For we know that many sheep wander outside the flock for a time, just as the sheep have many wolves among them. Therefore, those whom the Lord determined soon after to gather to Himself, He considers His people in view of their future faith.

But let us remember that those are grafted into the body of Christ who belong to it by the eternal adoption of God, as it is written:

“Yours they were, and You gave them me” (John 17:6).