Acts 16:9

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. AND A VISION APPEARED TO PAUL IN THE NIGHT - but while awake; otherwise it would have been called a dream. THERE STOOD A MAN OF MACEDONIA, AND PRAYED HIM, SAYING, COME OVER INTO MACEDONIA, AND HELP US. Stretching his eye across the AEgean Sea from Troas, on the northeast, to the Macedonian Hills, visible on the northwest, the apostle could hardly fail to think this the destined scene of his future labours; and if he retired to rest with this thought, he would be thoroughly prepared for the remarkable intimation of the divine will now to be given him. This visional Macedonian discovered himself in part, it may be, by his dress, but certainly by what he said. And yet it was a cry, not of conscious desire for the Gospel, but of d...

− 9._A vision by night. _The Lord would not that Paul should stay any longer in Asia; because he would draw him into Macedonia. And Luke expresseth the manner of the drawing, that a man of Macedonia appeared to him by night. Where we must note that the Lord did not always observe the same manner of revelation, because divers kinds are more convenient for confirmation. And it is not said that this vision was offered in a dream, but only in the night season. For there be certain night visions which men see when they be awake. − _Help us. _This speech setteth forth the ministry committed to Paul. For, seeing that the gospel is the power of God to salvation, ( Romans 1:16,) those which are the ministers of God are said to help those who perish; that having delivered them from death, they may bring them unto the inheritance of eternal life. And this ought to be no small en

6-15 The removals of ministers, and the dispensing the means of grace by them, are in particular under Divine conduct and direction. We must follow Providence: and whatever we seek to do, if that suffer us not, we ought to submit and believe to be for the best. People greatly need help for their souls, it is their duty to look out for it, and to invite those among them who can help them. And God's calls must be complied with readily. A solemn assembly the worshippers of God must have, if possible, upon the sabbath day. If we have not synagogues, we must be thankful for more private places, and resort to them; not forsaking the assembling together, as our opportunities are. Among the hearers of Paul was a woman, named Lydia. She had an honest calling, which the historian notices to her praise. Yet though she had a calling to mind, she found time to improve advantages for her soul. It wil...

Verse Acts 16:9. _A VISION APPEARED TO PAUL IN THE NIGHT_] Whether this was in a _dream_, or whether a _representation_ made to the _senses_ of the apostle, we cannot tell. A man of Macedonia appeared to him, and made this simple communication, _Come over into Macedonia,_ _and help us_. Some suppose that the _guardian angel_ of Macedonia appeared to St. Paul in a human shape; others, that it was a Divine communication made to his imagination in a dream....

AND A VISION - See the notes on Acts 9:10. THERE STOOD A MAN - etc. The appearance of a man who was known to be of Macedonia, probably by his dress and language. Whether this was in a dream, or whether it was a representation made to the senses while awake, it is impossible to tell. The will of God was at different times made known in both these ways. Compare Matthew 2:12; note, Acts 10:3. Grotius supposes that this was the guardian angel of Macedonia, and refers for illustration to Daniel 10:12,...

EXPOSITION ACTS 16:1 _And he came also _for _then came he, _A.V._ _and T.R.; _to Lystra _for _Lystra, _A.V._; Timothy _for _Timotheus, _A.V._; of a Jewess _for _of a certain woman which was a Jewess, _A.V. and T.R.; _which _for _and, _A.V. For DERBE and LYSTRA, see Acts 14:1. and notes. This time St. Paul visited Derbe first, whereas before he came from Lystra to Derbe (Acts 14:6, Acts 14:8, Acts 14:21). WAS THERE; viz

AND A VISION APPEARED TO PAUL IN THE NIGHT,.... Either in a dream, or, it may be, when he was awake: THERE STOOD A MAN OF MACEDONIA; an angel in the form of a man; the Syriac version reads, "as a man of Macedonia", and who might appear in a Macedonian habit, or speak in the Macedonian language; or the apostle might conclude him to be so, from his making mention of Macedonia, as the place where he requested him to come, and assist: AND PRAYED HIM, SAYING, COME OVER INTO MACEDONIA; Macedonia was a very large country in Europe; which formerly consisted, as Pliny o says, of a hundred and fifty people, or nations, and was called Emathia; it took its name of Macedonia from Macedo, a son of Jupiter, and of Thyd, a daughter of Deucalion: according to Ptolomy p it had on the north Dalmatia, superior Mysia and Thracia; on the west, the Ionian sea; on the south Epirus; and on the east, part of Th...

Acts 16:9. _And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us._ Our dreams often follow the leading thoughts of the day; or, if not of the day, yet the chief thoughts that are upon the mind. Paul dreams about mission work, for his heart is in it. I should not wonder if some before me, who are deeply engaged in earnest Christian work, have often dreamt about their Sunday-school, or their mission-station. Where the mind goes when we are awake, it often goes when we are asleep. This vision that appeared to Paul was supernatural; and was an indication of what God wanted him to do. Acts 16:10. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord ha

PRAYED HIM beseeching him. Here the Gospel turns toward Europe....

ACTS 16:9 o[rama In view of the external attestation (all witnesses except Dgr ite syrp Irenaeus) as well as intrinsic probability (elsewhere in Acts Luke says “saw a vision”), a majority of the Committee had no hesitancy in preferring o[rama. Codex Bezae (supported in part by other Western witnesses) alters the structure of the verse: kai. evn o`ra,mati dia. nukto.j w;fqh tw|/ Pau,lw| w`sei. avnh.r Makedw,n tij e`stw.j kata. pro,swpon auvtou/ parakalw/n kai. le,gwn…(“And _in_ a vision in the night there appeared to Paul, _as it were_ a man of Macedonia, standing _before his face,_ beseeching and saying …”). See also the following comments....