In the providence of God, all this delay resulted in the furtherance of the gospel. Paul was not condemned to a life of inactivity. He was allowed free intercourse with his friends, and was permitted to dwell in a commodious house, where he daily presented the truth to those who flocked to listen to his words. Thus for two years he continued, “preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” And his labors were not confined to the preaching of the gospel. The “care of all the churches” still rested upon him. He deeply felt the danger that threatened those for whom he had labored so earnestly, and he sought as far as possible to supply by written communications the place of his personal instruction. He also sent out authorized delegates to labor among the churches he had raised up, and also in fields which he had not visited. These messengers rendered him faithful service, and being in communication with them, he was informed concerning the condition and dangers of the churches, and was enabled to exercise a constant supervision over them.{LP 281.1}

Under Guds forsyn, førte al denne forsinkelse til evangeliets udbredelse. Paulus blev ikke dømt for et liv i passivitet. Han fik lov at mødes frit med sine venner, og fik lov at bo i et behageligt hus, hvor han daglig bragte sandheden til dem som flokkes at lytte til hans ord. Sådan fortsatte han i to år, » og forkyndte dem Guds rige og lærte dem om Herren Jesus Kristus med al frimodighed, uden at nogen hindrede ham deri.« Og hans arbejde blev ikke begrænset til at forkynde evangeliet. »Bekymringerne for alle menighederne« hvile stadig på ham. Han mærkede dybt den fare, som truede dem, der havde arbejdet så alvorligt for ham, og han søgte så vidt muligt at forsyne stedet med skrevne meddelelser med hans personlige undervisning. Han sendte også autoriserede deligerede ud for at arbejde iblandt de menigheder han havde oprettet, og også til marker som han ikke havde besøgt. Disse budbringere gav ham en pålidelig tjeneste, og når han talte med dem, informerede han dem om menighedernes tilstand og fare, og kunne hele tiden føre opsyn med dem.