Answer: We should not be frightened in any way by those
who oppose us, (verse 28).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
"Frightened" here is the metaphor for a timid or
scared horse. It comes from the Greek word ptyromai
(used only here in the New Testament). It means "to be
startled, frightened." "Without being frightened
in any way by those who oppose you" has also been translated:
"in no way intimidated by your opponents" (Arndt and
Gingrich); "not for a moment intimidated by the
antagonists" (the Berkeley Version) and "not
startled in anything" (A.T. Robertson). Some
paraphrases are: "not caring two straws for your
enemies" (Phillips) and "meeting your opponents without
so much as a tremor" (NEB). God knows that His children
have enemies, enemies who oppose our work for Him. He tells
us that we need not be afraid, but only trust in Him as we spread
the Good News to all, no matter if they listen or fail to
listen:
Psalm 56:3-4: "When I am afraid, I
will trust in You. In God, Whose Word I praise, in God I
trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to
me?"
Isaiah 44:8: "Do not tremble, do
not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long
ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God
besides Me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not
one."
Ezekiel 2:3-8: "He [the Sovereign
Lord] said: 'Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites,
to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their
fathers have been in revolt against Me to this very day. The
people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to
them, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says." And
whether they listen or fail to listen--for they are a
rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among
them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their
words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around
you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say
or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You
must speak My Words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen,
for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, listen to what
I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your
mouth and eat what I give you.'"
Matthew 10:24-31: [Jesus said,] "A
student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his
master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher,
and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been
called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!
So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will
not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What
I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in
your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those
who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of
the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not
two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the
ground apart from the Will of your Father. And even the very
hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you
are worth more than many sparrows. Whoever acknowledges Me
before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in
heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him
before My Father in heaven."
Luke 12:32: [Jesus said,] "Do not
be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give
you the kingdom."
John 14:27: [Jesus said,] "Peace I
leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid."
Acts 18:9-11: "One night the Lord
spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on
speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is
going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this
city [Corinth].' So Paul stayed for a year and a half,
teaching them the Word of God."
Acts 27:23-24: "Last night an angel
of the God Whose I am and Whom I serve stood beside me and said,
'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar;
and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with
you.'"
Romans 8:18: "I consider that our
present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will
be revealed in us."
Romans 8:31-39: "What, then, shall
we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against
us? He who did not spare His Own Son, but gave Him up for us
all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us
all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God
has chosen? It is God Who justifies. Who is he that condemns?
Christ Jesus, Who died--more than that, Who was raised to
life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for
us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger
or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we
face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him Who loved us. For I am convinced that
neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from
the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
1 Thessalonians 2:2: "We had
previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but
with the help of our God we dared to tell you His Gospel in spite
of strong opposition."
Titus 1:9: "He [an elder of the
Lord's church] must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as
it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound
doctrine and refute those who oppose it."
Titus 2:7-8: "In your teaching show
integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be
condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they
have nothing bad to say about us."
Hebrews 12:2-3: "Let us fix our
eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the
joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him Who
endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow
weary and lose heart."
Hebrews 13:6: "So we say with
confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be
afraid. What can man do to me?'"
1 Peter 3:13-15: "Who is going to
harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should
suffer for what is right, you are blessed. 'Do not fear what
they fear; do not be frightened.' But in your hearts
set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you
have."
1 Peter 5:8-11: "Be self-controlled
and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in
the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world
are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of
all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you
have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you
strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and
ever. Amen."
