Acts 16 7

Acts 16:7 kjv

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

Acts 16:7 nkjv

After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

Acts 16:7 niv

When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

Acts 16:7 esv

And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

Acts 16:7 nlt

Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.

Acts 16 verses

Acts 16 7 Meaning

Acts 16:7 describes a specific moment during Paul's second missionary journey where he and his companions, after passing through Mysia, intended to travel into Bithynia for ministry. However, their plan was directly thwarted by the Holy Spirit. This verse emphasizes the active, sovereign role of the Spirit in directing the path and timing of the apostolic mission, even over the logical strategic intentions of experienced evangelists like Paul.

Acts 16 7 Context

Acts 16:7 is a crucial moment in Paul's second missionary journey. The preceding verse (Acts 16:6) describes the Holy Spirit preventing Paul and his team from preaching in the province of Asia (referring to Roman Asia Minor). This second restriction in verse 7, against entering Bithynia, highlights a persistent and intentional divine redirection. These geographical prohibitions set the stage for the pivotal "Macedonian Call" in Acts 16:9, where Paul receives a vision urging him to "come over to Macedonia and help us." Historically, these northern regions of Asia Minor (Mysia and Bithynia) were populated and had significant Jewish communities, making them logical targets for evangelism from a human perspective. However, the Holy Spirit's intervention signifies that the gospel's spread was not determined by human logic or geographic convenience, but by divine sovereignty, ultimately directing the mission towards Europe, a monumental shift in the history of Christianity.

Acts 16 7 Word analysis

• and when they had come up to Mysia:

  • "had come up": The Greek elthontes implies simply "having come" or "arrived." Mysia was a Roman province in the northwestern part of Asia Minor, bordering Bithynia. Their arrival here marks the latest point of their journey.
  • "Mysia": A geographical region often passed through to reach more northern or western points in Asia Minor. It's a natural corridor.

• they attempted:

  • The Greek verb here is epeirazon, an imperfect active indicative of peirazō. The imperfect tense indicates a continuous or repeated attempt, or an ongoing intention. This wasn't a casual thought but a deliberate effort or strong desire to go. Peirazō often means "to test" or "to try," emphasizing their human endeavor and perhaps their resolve.

• to go into Bithynia:

  • "Bithynia": Another Roman province, located directly to the east of Mysia, along the coast of the Black Sea. Geographically, it was the logical next step if they were to continue northwards through Asia Minor after being forbidden from the province of Asia. It likely presented itself as a viable and attractive mission field.

• but the Spirit:

  • "but": The Greek kai here functions adversatively, indicating a contrast: they tried, but something intervened.
  • "the Spirit": The Greek to Pneuma, often referring specifically to the Holy Spirit with the definite article, underscoring the divine agent behind the intervention. This is not a human instinct or internal doubt, but an active, external divine will. This reiterates the Holy Spirit's continuous and sovereign control over the early church's mission.

• did not permit them:

  • "did not permit": The Greek ouk eiasen, where ouk is "not" and eiasen (from eaō) means "to permit" or "to allow." This is a definitive and absolute prohibition. It was a clear "no" from divine authority, not just a feeling of discouragement or an closed door through human circumstances. The verb is in the aorist tense, indicating a completed, decisive action by the Spirit.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "they attempted to go... but the Spirit did not permit them": This entire phrase encapsulates the tension between human agency and divine sovereignty. Paul and his team, though divinely commissioned, operated under the specific, active guidance of the Holy Spirit in strategic planning. Their experienced judgment was subordinate to the Spirit's immediate direction, highlighting that missions are God's work, executed on His terms, location, and timing. This twofold prohibition (Asia then Bithynia) shows that the Spirit was not merely creating minor detours but decisively orchestrating a major redirection.

Acts 16 7 Bonus section

The active and even 'restrictive' role of the Holy Spirit described here is not a unique phenomenon in Acts. Throughout the book, the Spirit guides, empowers, sends, and sometimes even restrains. The narrative often emphasizes that the Holy Spirit determines the course of the gospel's spread, not merely the apostles' desires. The prohibitions in Acts 16:6-7 effectively bottleneck Paul's team, ensuring they do not wander aimlessly or pursue humanly appealing opportunities, but are strategically positioned for the specific divine appointment of the Macedonian Call (Acts 16:9-10). This emphasizes a critical theological point: God's mission operates on a divine timetable and geographical strategy that transcends human understanding or logistical planning. The methods of guidance might not always be through explicit prohibitions; it could also manifest through a profound lack of inner peace, circumstances that clearly block paths, or prophetic words within the believing community.

Acts 16 7 Commentary

Acts 16:7 serves as a profound illustration of the Holy Spirit's meticulous leadership in the early church's missionary expansion. It is not enough for devoted and knowledgeable missionaries like Paul to simply desire to spread the gospel; the 'where' and 'when' are just as much under divine jurisdiction as the 'what' and 'who'. The repeated prohibition—first in the province of Asia (v.6), and then explicitly for Bithynia (v.7)—shows the Spirit was intentionally narrowing their geographical options. This divine 'blocking' was not an arbitrary obstruction but a purposeful redirection. It underscores that spiritual wisdom in missions involves discerning not only open doors but also recognizing and submitting to divinely closed ones, trusting God's ultimate plan even when it defies human logic or strategy. It sets the stage for the Spirit's greater purpose of opening Europe to the gospel.

• Practical Example: A church missions team carefully plans to minister in a particular city, raising funds and making arrangements, but all doors consistently close – visas are denied, contacts fall through, or health issues arise. Instead of forcing their initial plan, they prayerfully seek other avenues, recognizing God might be guiding them to a different, unforeseen location or timing, much like Paul's experience.