Acts 18:5-11. Silas and Timothy arrive in Corinth and find Paul occupied with preaching to the Jews there. When the Jews oppose him, Paul declares that his blood will be on their heads, and he will now devote his time to the Gentiles. He goes to stay with Titius Justus who lives next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, and his household, and many of the Corinthians, come to believe in are baptized. One night Paul has a vision in which the Lord tells him not to be afraid of preaching, God is with him. No one shall harm Paul, for God has many people in the city. So Paul stays in Corinth a year and a half, teaching God's word to the people there.

It seems unlike Paul for him to be so scared of the Jews in Corinth that he turns away from preaching to them. They must have been quite threatening in their opposition for Paul to react this way, since he had not been dissuaded by opposition up to this point. But despite his concern, he has had some success - Titius Justus and Crispus have come to believe, and his teaching to the Gentiles has gained many converts. So he doesn't give up, he just gives up on the Jews. Until, that is, God intervenes. God tells Paul not to be afraid to keep going, and assures Paul that he is being protected by God Himself. Thus Paul is able to stay for a year and a half in Corinth, preaching the entire time and converting many.

I have heard Bishop Barron say that fear, not hate, is the opposite of love. Paul was never put off by opposition before, but in Corinth he feels fear, and he lets that keep him from love and thus from his mission. Because he fears the Jews, Paul stops preaching to them, thus depriving them of the truth. Love is willing the good of the other, and Paul is not loving to the Jews here - he is depriving them of the good God wants him to deliver to them because he is afraid of them. God intervenes and assuages Paul's fear, so he can get back to loving the Jews and giving them the message God wants him to give.

I have mentioned before that I feel the strong pull to evangelize right now. It has caused me suffering, but all of that has been emotional. I wonder how I will react if and when there is the threat of actual physical harm? I will try to come back to this passage at that time, and remember that God is with us, always. I know He's got a lot of people in this city, I've met many of them already!

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Update 3/19/23: It occurred to me later that this reading is applicable to me now. I have been avoiding some people because they have been hurting me, but God wants me to speak His message to them, as well. He will help me and guide me!