6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
God changed the mission plan of the gospel team (Acts 16:1-10) when they received the call to go to Macedonia. It becomes abundantly clear that God directed Paul’s mission trip. An entirely new field of ministry opened to the apostle that he did not anticipate by following God’s leading.
16:6
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia,
God interrupted their plans after traveling through Phrygia and Galatia.
they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
The Holy Spirit intervened in their plans to preach the word in Asia, where Ephesus was located. He forbade them to go south and west to Asia Minor but to a new ministry area.
16:7
After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
The Spirit also forbade them to go north to Bithynia; they were to go to a place of His choosing. Bithynia is in the north along the Black Sea, where there were many Jews.
Peter later reached Bithynia for Christ (1 Pe 1:1). God’s plan was for Peter, not Paul, to reach that province.
16:8
So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
Having obeyed the Spirit, they passed by Mysia and came westward to the seaport of Troas near the ancient city of Troy. Troas, a Roman colony, was on the coast across the Aegean Sea from Macedonia Greece, in what would become part of Europe. The Holy Spirit knew it would become Europe, but Paul only viewed it as passing from one province to another.
Troas was at the mouth of the Dardanelles and was a strategic port between Asia Minor and Greece.
PRINCIPLE:
There are times when we cannot determine the direction of our lives; in those times, we depend on the Spirit’s guidance.
APPLICATION:
God was in the process of moving the Apostle Paul and his team from Asia to Europe (Macedonia, Greece). They had to cross the Aegean Sea to do this. There are times when God does not reveal His complete will for us. At those points, we accept the unknown future but follow His will no matter where He would have us go.
