PrevActs 16:7Next

Acts 16

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

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,

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

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 after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

What does Acts 16:7 mean?

Explanation

Acts 16:7 describes a moment during Paul's second missionary journey when he and his companions, attempting to spread the Christian message, planned to enter the region of Bithynia in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey).

However, they were prevented from doing so by the Holy Spirit.

The verse captures not only a change in their travel plans but also indicates the active guidance of the Holy Spirit in the apostolic mission.

While the verse recounts a specific incident, its deeper meaning suggests the theme of divine intervention and the importance of discerning and following spiritual direction in the work of the ministry.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts is attributed to Luke, a companion of Paul, and chronicles the early Church's history following the ascension of Jesus Christ.

Acts 16:7 falls within the account of Paul's missionary travels, specifically his second journey which took place around AD 49-52.

In the broader context, this incident occurred after the Council of Jerusalem where the early Church leaders met to discuss the requirements of Gentile converts to Christianity.

Paul's journeys were essential in spreading Christianity beyond Jewish communities and into Gentile territories.

Mysia and Bithynia were Roman provinces in northwest Asia Minor, and although Paul had plans to preach there, he was divinely redirected to other areas where the Gospel had not yet been heard.

Theological Insights

Various theological insights can be drawn from Acts 16:7:

Divine Guidance: This verse is often cited to illustrate the concept of divine guidance, where God, through the Holy Spirit, directs the paths of believers, confirming or frustrating their plans for a higher purpose.
Sovereignty of God: Some theologians reflect on this verse as an example of God's sovereign will prevailing over human intentions.

God's purposes are seen as overriding human agendas.

Discernment of Spirit: The verse also speaks to the need for discernment in recognizing and obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit, an essential aspect of Christian life and ministry.

Practical Applications

Acts 16:7 can be applied in daily life in several ways:

Openness to Change: This passage encourages individuals to be open to changes in their plans, understanding that sometimes obstacles may represent divine redirection.
Prayer and Discernment: Believers are reminded of the importance of seeking God's guidance in prayer and discerning His leading, especially when faced with important decisions.
Trust in God's Plan: The verse reinforces the trust that God has a plan for each person, and sometimes unexpected detours are part of that greater plan.

Cross-References

Related verses include:

Proverbs 16:9: "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps."
Proverbs 19:21: "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand."
Isaiah 30:21: "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key phrase is "το πνεῦμα Ἰησοῦ" (to pneuma Iēsou), often translated as "the Spirit of Jesus" or simply "the Holy Spirit".

The term "πνεῦμα" (pneuma) can mean spirit, breath, or wind, conveying a sense of an intangible, divine force guiding the believers. "ἐκώλυσεν" (ekōlusen) translates as "prevented" or "did not allow", suggesting a strong, definitive action by the Holy Spirit to stop Paul and his companions from entering Bithynia.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader cultural and religious landscape, divine guidance and intervention are common motifs.

Many ancient myths and religions have stories of gods directing the actions of humans, often through oracles or signs.

Christianity, however, emphasizes a personal and internal guidance by the Holy Spirit, distinguishing it from certain other religions which may rely on external omens or mediums.

Scientific Perspectives

While the concept of divine intervention does not have a direct parallel in scientific explanations, the study of human decision-making and psychology does offer insight into how individuals perceive guidance and make choices.

Neuroscience explores how beliefs, including religious beliefs, shape cognitive processes and can lead to various interpretations of experiences.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of Acts 16:7:

Divine Prohibition: Many commentators agree that the Holy Spirit's prohibition of Paul's plan to enter Bithynia reflects divine sovereignty and the guidance of God in the spread of the Gospel.
Strategic Evangelism: Some suggest that the Holy Spirit's intervention was strategic, redirecting Paul to regions where the Gospel message would find fertile ground and lead to the establishment of strong Christian communities.
Symbolism: Other experts view this passage symbolically, representing the broader theme of the Christian journey being led by the Spirit rather than by human will alone.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 16:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?