Acts 16 6

Acts 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,

Acts 16:6 nkjv

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.

Acts 16:6 niv

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.

Acts 16:6 esv

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.

Acts 16:6 nlt

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.

Acts 16 verses

Acts 16 6 Meaning

This verse signifies the active and direct leadership of the Holy Spirit in guiding the missionary journey of Paul and his companions. Despite their earnest desire to preach, they were specifically hindered by divine intervention from proclaiming the gospel in the Roman province of Asia at that particular time. This highlights God's sovereign control over the timing, location, and strategy of gospel outreach, prioritizing divine direction over human plans.

Acts 16 6 Context

Acts chapter 16 marks a significant phase in Paul's second missionary journey. After the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 and a brief contention with Barnabas, Paul selects Silas as his new traveling companion. They set out to revisit and strengthen the churches established during Paul's first journey. Their mission included delivering the council's decrees to the Gentile believers, reinforcing sound doctrine and unity within the growing church. Before this specific verse, they had picked up Timothy in Lystra (a city likely within the Roman province of Galatia) and were continuing to encourage churches, witnessing their growth and increased faith. Acts 16:6 represents a pivotal moment of divine redirection in their overall missionary strategy, leading the gospel away from Asia Minor and towards Europe. Historically, the Roman province of Asia was a highly populated and influential region, making the Holy Spirit's prohibition a strategic intervention that set the course for global evangelization.

Acts 16 6 Word analysis

• And when they had gone through (διελθόντες δὲ, dielthontes de): This signifies continuous travel and purposeful progression. It indicates their movement across considerable territory as part of their established missionary work.
• Phrygia (Φρυγία, Phrygia): A geographical region located in the central-western part of Asia Minor. Its mention suggests a natural travel path through various smaller regions.
• and the region of Galatia (τὴν Γαλατικὴν χώραν, tēn Galatikēn chōran): Refers to the Roman province of Galatia, which included cities Paul had previously evangelized (such as Iconium, Lystra, Derbe). Traveling through this "region" emphasizes the broader area of their mission within this Roman administrative division.
• they were forbidden (ἐκωλύθησαν, ekōlythēsan): A passive verb indicating an external force. This wasn't merely a lack of opportunity or an internal decision but an active, unmistakable divine prevention or hindrance.
• by the Holy Spirit (ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος, hypo tou Hagiou Pneumatos): Directly attributes the prohibition to God, specifically the Third Person of the Trinity. This emphasizes the Spirit's authoritative, direct, and immediate guidance in mission, asserting His sovereignty over human strategy and effort.
• to preach the word (λαλῆσαι τὸν λόγον, lalēsai ton logon): Their primary purpose, the act of proclaiming the gospel message, the "word" of God concerning Jesus Christ. The Spirit was not forbidding travel, but forbidding their specific core activity of preaching in that specific area at that time.
• in Asia (ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ, en tē Asia): Refers specifically to the Roman province of Asia (which differed from the larger continent). This was a densely populated, wealthy, and strategically important region, home to major cities like Ephesus. The prohibition here was a divine strategic deferment, not a permanent exclusion, as Paul would later minister there extensively (Acts 19).

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia": This phrase highlights their methodical and extensive work in strengthening existing churches in these areas, consolidating their earlier missionary efforts. It shows their diligent engagement with the mission given to them before divine intervention shifted their path.
• "they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word": This crucial phrase emphasizes the direct, authoritative intervention of the Holy Spirit in missionary strategy. It underscores that spiritual ministry is not solely based on human zeal or logical planning but on active divine guidance and discernment, even when it means foregoing immediate opportunities. This prohibition was specific to their preaching activity and implied a temporal restriction.

Acts 16 6 Bonus section

• The specific way the Holy Spirit "forbade" them is not explicitly detailed here. It could have been through an internal spiritual impression, a dream, a prophetic word, or a providentially closed door. However, it was clear enough for Paul and his companions to understand and obey.
• This momentary delay in evangelizing the province of Asia directly foreshadows Paul's extensive and impactful ministry in Ephesus (a major city in Asia) later in Acts 19, where "all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus." This demonstrates God's strategic timing and patient unfolding of His plan.
• The Spirit's guidance here demonstrates a theological principle: the "general command" of the Great Commission (to preach to all nations) is fulfilled through "specific guidance" and divine prioritization, rather than unfocused effort.
• The immediate effect of this prohibition was their movement towards the coast, leading directly to the pivotal "Macedonian Call" in Acts 16:9-10, where a vision compelled them to cross into Europe, marking a significant new phase in world evangelization.

Acts 16 6 Commentary

Acts 16:6 profoundly illustrates the Holy Spirit's absolute sovereignty and strategic oversight in advancing the Kingdom of God. It presents a divine "no" to Paul's seemingly logical plans, indicating that missionary work is not merely about identifying receptive territories, but discerning and obeying God's specific timing and chosen pathway. This prohibition in Asia was not a rejection of the region itself (which would later become a hub of Christian activity through Paul's extensive ministry in Ephesus), but a strategic rerouting to open up the gospel's expansion into Europe, specifically Macedonia. This verse challenges believers to yield their own plans and preferences to the Holy Spirit's guidance, recognizing that God's ways are higher and His timing perfect, often leading His servants through unexpected paths to achieve His ultimate, global purpose.