Acts 16:6

Why did the Holy Spirit forbid Paul to preach in Asia when Jesus said to go into all the world?

PROBLEM: Jesus commanded His followers to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19) and to be witnesses to “the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). But in Acts 16 Paul and Timothy “were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia” (v. 6).

SOLUTION: Paul was only forbidden immediately. God had a more strategic route for the Gospel through Europe first (Acts 16:9). Eventually, however, the Gospel got to Asia and to every place through Paul’s converts in Europe (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:7) and by Paul himself (Acts 19:10; Acts 19:22; Acts 19:26; Acts 20:4; Acts 20:16; Acts 20:18; 1 Corinthians 16:19). So, the prohibition was only temporary, not permanent.