Acts18:8

Acts 18:8 states, And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.  After Paul told the Jews in Corinth that he had shared the gospel with them and they wouldn't listen and he was going to the Gentiles, the first place he went was to the house of Justis. He was a believer whose house joined the synagogue.  Paul did not give up on Jews being saved.  He simply changed his focal point to the Gentiles. If a group of people as a whole refuse to hear the gospel, we cannot give up on the whole group.  We may change our focus, but we must still pray that the gospel will take root in them. Although Paul said he was going to the Gentiles, the first we know of to accept the salvation of Christ was the leader of the synagogue, Crispus, and all his house, and many Corinthians, and were baptized. Again, even though some mocked and some waited to hear more, most importantly, some believed.  We are but messengers, and as Paul would say later, God gives the increase.  Verse nine adds, Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:  God spoke to Paul in a night vision, telling him to not be afraid, but to speak and hold not his peace.  I am not sure how God speaks to other people, but for Paul it was often in a night vision.  For me, it is a still, small voice deep within my soul.  I have never heard an audible voice as Paul did on the road to Damascus, and it is not a shout, but there is never a doubt in my mind that it is God.  He does speak to others differently, but the key is to know His voice when He speaks.  One thing we can be sure of, if it is God' talking to us, He will never tell us to do anything that goes against His nature.  So, if we feel we are being told to hate or kill, for example, that is not God speaking. Verse ten continues, For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.  Then, He told Paul that He was with him and would keep him from harm, because He had many people in that city.  Wherever we are as God's followers, we can rest easy because He is always with us.  During the beatings, imprisonment, and now a time of peace, one thing never changed- God was with Paul. When we are following God's will, no matter the circumstances of life, He is with us. Verse eleven concludes, And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Paul stayed a year and a half, teaching them God's word, and God was with him the whole time. As long as we are where God wants us, He will be with us.