Was Paul fearless when he took the gospel into pagan cities?
No, Paul was not fearless. He entered pagan cities with the same fears, weaknesses, and human makeup as other believers, trembling and unsure of the response he would receive. Yet he went anyway, demonstrating obedience and courage despite fear rather than a bold facade without fear.
Les explains that the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to tell believers to follow him because he was of the same human make-up as they were, with the same failures, weaknesses, and fears. He went into one of those strange pagan cities and did not go with a boldness or facade that showed no fear; he trembled in his boots just like we would, not knowing what kind of response he would get. But he went anyway, and that is what we have to do. Les notes it is a fearsome thing to take the Gospel out to a belligerent world, yet this is what Paul meant when he said, "be ye followers of Me," and we should burn with that same desire to see more people come to a knowledge of salvation. Paul writes to Gentiles, and the example stands.