6They went through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia. [16:7] When they came to Mysia, they were attempting repeatedly to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. [16:8] So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. [16:9] A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain Macedonian man was standing there and appealing to him, saying, "Cross over into Macedonia and help us." [16:10] When he saw the vision, immediately we sought to go out into Macedonia, drawing the conclusion — putting the evidence together — that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
ACT 16:6-10
Paulʼs Vision of the Macedonian
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, travel and mission work were fraught with uncertainty and danger. Roman roads facilitated movement, but bandits, political instability, and natural hazards made journeys perilous. Paul and his companions relied on divine guidance, a common practice among Jewish and early Christian groups, to navigate their mission. The Holy Spirit’s prohibition against preaching in Asia and Bithynia reflects the belief that God actively directs human endeavors, a concept rooted in Jewish prophetic tradition. The vision of the Macedonian man aligns with Greco-Roman and Jewish understandings of divine communication through dreams or visions, often seen as authoritative directives. Troas, a port city, was a strategic location for crossing into Macedonia, a Roman province with significant urban centers like Philippi and Thessalonica. The decision to interpret the vision as a divine call underscores the early Christian reliance on supernatural guidance to expand their mission into new territories, particularly the Greco-Roman world.
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How other translations render this
ACT 16:6
- KJV
- Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
- BSB
- After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
- Koinōnos
- They went through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia.
ACT 16:7
- KJV
- After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
- BSB
- And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.
- Koinōnos
- When they came to Mysia, they were attempting repeatedly to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
ACT 16:8
- KJV
- And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
- BSB
- So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
- Koinōnos
- So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
ACT 16:9
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
- Koinōnos
- A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain Macedonian man was standing there and appealing to him, saying, "Cross over into Macedonia and help us.
ACT 16:10
- KJV
- And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
- BSB
- As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
- Koinōnos
- When he saw the vision, immediately we sought to go out into Macedonia, drawing the conclusion — putting the evidence together — that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ACT 16:6
- region:The word translated 'region' here refers to a specific administrative district or territory, indicating a defined geographical area with established boundaries.
ACT 16:7
- they were attempting:The phrase 'they were attempting' carries the sense of a sustained effort or repeated attempts, not just a single try.
ACT 16:9
- a vision:The word translated 'a vision' specifically refers to something seen, often in a supernatural or dream-like state, rather than just a general idea or mental image.
ACT 16:10
- Macedonia:The word translated 'Macedonia' here is part of a phrase that means to 'put things together' or 'draw a conclusion,' indicating a process of reasoning based on evidence.