Acts 18: 9-11 (ESV) 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in m a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
According to the ESV Study Notes the phrase “I have many in this city who are my people,” indicates that many in Corinth who were not yet believers would be converted.
How many are there in this city that God has marked out as His People? He who knows the heart and sees the soul of a man, He who continually reaches to lost humanity, how many are there in my city that He knows are ready and hungry to hear an Apostolic preacher share truth with them? How many are there that He is dealing with that are turning their heart in his direction as He draws and entices them towards truth?
In response to this incredible revelation Paul stayed a year and six months in Corinth, longer than he stayed at any city except Ephesus, preaching the gospel in order that, through his preaching, those whom God had chosen would be saved.
Preacher, you aren’t laboring in vain and your toils won’t be fruitless. God has a harvest in your city that is ready. My prayer, in this new year, is that the Lord of the harvest will lead me to His harvest!