College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 16:6-11
WHILE IN THE ABOVE STATED REGIONS THEY WERE FORBIDDEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SPEAK THE WORD IN ASIA. THEY PASSED THROUGH THE PRO-VINCE OF MYSIA AND ASSAYED TO GO INTO THE PROVINCE OF BITHYNIA BUT THEY WERE AGAIN FORBIDDEN. Acts 16:6 b - Acts 16:8 a.
having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not;
and passing by Mysia,
Acts 16:6 b The province of Asia would surely be the most obvious of development in the gospel, so thought the apostle Paul, There were more cities in this province, hence more people to whom to bring the glad tidings. There were more favorable natural conditions; i.e., the terrain was not so rough as in the neighboring provinces and to this province he had tried to go once before.
Acts 16:7-8 a But the leader of these men looked not upon the outward appearances but upon the will of God. Knowing the mind of God, the Holy Spirit made it known to the apostles in some way that would let them know that God did not want the Word preached by them in Asia at this time; nor even in the more northerly province of Bithynia. Every door was shut in their faces and their path was hedged in with refusals. There was no way to go but straight ahead.
Once again we need a little clarification as to the location and meaning of the statements made in these verses. A reference to the map will give some idea as to their location. Note please the circumstances in Acts 16:7 over against Mysia which means right at the border of the province, then second, from the position at the border of Mysia they planned or began to travel toward the northern province of Bithynia. There were several large towns here in which the gospel could have been preached. Once again we read the rather strange words but the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not. Just how the Holy Spirit communicated this information we have no way of knowing. Whether subjectively or objectively it would be impossible to say. Then note: Passing by Mysia, this can also be translated passing through Mysia. A look at the map will clear this up. Thus were they driven straight across the country to the seaport of Troas.
552.
Give two reason why the province of Asia would seem to be the most obvious place to go for preaching.
553.
To what does the term Bithynia refer?
554.
What is the meaning of the phrase over against Mysia?
555.
The meaning of Passing by Mysia?
8.
AT TROAS. Acts 16:8 b - Acts 16:10.
they came down to Troas.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel unto them.
Acts 16:8 b, Acts 16:9 The location and history of these towns is very important to a thorough understanding and appreciation of the story. Look it up and read it.
When Paul, Silas and Timothy arrived in Troas they very shortly knew why God had forced them along in the way He had. It happened that on a certain night a visitor appeared unto the apostle. A man from across the Aegean Sea. His visit in this visionary form was to earnestly request that Paul cross the waters and come into Macedonia and help us.
Acts 16:10 Here it is that the pronoun of the author of Acts changes from they to we and us. Note the change in verses eight through eleven. The conclusion, of course, is that here in Troas the physician, Luke, joined the evangelistic party. Whether this was his home or not we cannot say, but we personally like to believe that it was, Paul must have spoken to Luke, Silas and Timothy about the vision. They all concluded that the circumstances pointed in just one direction and that was over into Europe. God himself had commissioned them to bear the glad tidings to Macedonia.
9.
AT SAMOTHRACE. Acts 16:11 a.
Acts 16:11 a Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace,
Acts 16:11 a In passing it does seem from what happens in Troas upon the return trip (Acts 20:6-12) that some work for God must have been done here, by Luke perchance, even before Paul and company arrived. Or maybe the foursome had a meeting that is not recorded by Luke.
Here is a brief description of that charming little isle of Samothrace at which they anchored the first night out from Troas. On the first day they sailed past Tenedos and Imbros straight for Samothrace and anchored for the night to leeward of it. Did Paul as he gazed by starlight, or at early dawn on the towering peak which overshadows that ancient island, think at all of its immemorial mysteries or talk to his companions about the Cabiri, or question any of the Greek or Roman sailors about the strange names of Axiocheros, Axiochersos, and Axiochersa? We would gladly know, but we have no data to help us, and it is strongly probable that to all such secondary incidents he was habitually indifferent. (The Life Of Paul, Farrar, p. 273).
10.
AT NEAPOLIS. Acts 16:11 b.
and the day following to Neapolis;
Acts 16:11 b Cunningham Geikie says concerning Neapolis: We can infer the appearance of the port, in some measure, from that of Levantine coast-towns now. There would be the same mixture of East and West, the same provision for harbourage, and the same style of houses; but also, I fear, a little of the neglect which seems to mark all places in the East or near it.
Philippi, to which the travelers were going, lay about ten miles inland, but was easily reached from Neapolis, as that town was the coast-ending of the great Egnatian Road which crossed Macedonia arid Thrace, on the one hand, and stretched away, on the other, to Thessalonica on the west. Climbing a defile through the hills which lie close behind Neapolis, by the massive squarely paved causeway of that military highway, between precipices almost overhanging the sea, the missionaries would have a glorious view behind them on gaining the crest, if they chose to interest themselves in anything but their errand. Looking down them toward Philippi, a plain, level as the sea, lay at their feet, framed, in the nearer and further distance, in a background of mountains, of which some, within a sweep of thirty miles rose to a height of from four to eight thousand feet. (Geikie, op. cit. pp. 377-378).
Neapolis was a city of Considerable size. With such a city was it not passing strange that the word was not preached here? Strange unless we understand the purposes of the preachers. To the Jew first, and also to the Greek was the order. Finding no opening here they went on to the next city.
556.
How can we say that to go into Macedonia was to enter Europe?
557.
What is significant in the change of pronouns in Acts 16:8-11?
558.
What does Acts 20:6-12 have to do with the Lord's work in Troas?
559.
What is Samothrace?
560.
Why no description of the country through which the missionaries were passing?
561.
How far was Philippi from Neapolis?
562.
What is the Egnatian Road?