As he was contemplating leaving the city for a more promising field, and feeling very anxious to understand his duty in the case, the Lord appeared to him in a vision of the night, and said, “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city.” Paul understood this to be a command to remain in Corinth, and a guarantee that the Lord would give increase to the seed sown. Strengthened and encouraged, he continued to labor there with great zeal and perseverance for one year and six months. A large church was enrolled under the banner of Jesus Christ. Some came from among the most dissipated of the Gentiles; and many of this class were true converts, and became monuments of God’s mercy and the efficacy of the blood of Christ to cleanse from sin.{LP 107.1}

Idet han overvejede at forlade byen til en mere lovende arbejdsmark, og var meget ivrig efter at forstå sin opgave i den sag, viste Herren sig for ham i et syn om natten, og sagde: "Frygt ikke, men tal og ti ikke; for jeg er med dig, og ingen skal lægge hånd på dig og gøre dig noget ondt; thi jeg har et talrigt folk i denne by." Paulus forstod dette som en ordre til at blive i Korint, og en sikkerhed for at Herren ville det udsåede frø vækst. Styrket og opmuntret, fortsatte han arbejdet med stor iver og udholdenhed i et år og seks måneder. En stor menighed blev indskrevet under Jesu Kristi banner. Nogle kom fra de mest forjagede blandt hedningene; og mange af den klasse var sande nyomvendte, og blev mindesmærker for Guds barmhjertighed og for den effekt at Kristi blod renser fra synd.