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 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 16:6 | And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia. | Holy Spirit's guidance |
| Acts 16:8-10 | passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. | Divine redirection, Macedonian call |
| Acts 13:2 | While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” | Holy Spirit's commission |
| Acts 20:2 | After Paul had traveled through that region and given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. | Journey through Greece |
| Romans 8:14 | For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. | Being led by the Spirit |
| Galatians 5:16, 18 | But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. | Guidance by the Spirit |
| 1 Corinthians 12:11 | All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who divides to each one individually as he wills. | Spirit's sovereign will |
| John 14:26, 16:13 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things… When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. | Spirit as guide and teacher |
| Matthew 10:20 | For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. | Spirit's enabling speech |
| Genesis 24:40 | He said, “‘The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. And you shall take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house. | God's providential guidance |
| Exodus 33:14 | He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” | God's presence and provision |
| Isaiah 48:17 | Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. | God leads His people |
| Jeremiah 10:23 | I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not his own; it is not for man who walks to direct his own steps. | Man's steps directed by God |
| Psalm 23:3 | he renews my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. | The Lord leads in righteousness |
| Psalm 32:8 | I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. | God instructs and counsels |
| Acts 16:9 | and a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” | Vision for Macedonia |
| 1 Corinthians 14:32 | And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. | Order in spiritual gifts |
| 1 Thessalonians 2:18 | For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. | Satan's opposition, God's counter |
| Revelation 1:10 | I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard a voice behind me, like the sound of a trumpet… | Being in the Spirit |
| 1 Peter 4:12 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that is taking place among you, as though something strange is happening to you. | Trials and guidance |
| Ephesians 4:30 | And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. | Grieving the Spirit |
Acts 16 verses
Acts 16 7 Meaning
This verse describes Paul and his companions' intention to travel into the region of Bithynia, a Roman province in northwest Anatolia (modern Turkey), but the Spirit of Jesus prevented them. This divine intervention guided their missionary journey towards a different direction, ultimately leading them to Troas.
Acts 16 7 Context
This verse is situated within Paul's second missionary journey, as chronicled in Acts chapter 16. Following his ministry in Galatia, Paul and his companions, Silas and Timothy (and possibly Luke, inferred from the use of "we" later in the chapter), intended to preach the gospel in the Roman province of Asia (western Asia Minor). However, the Holy Spirit explicitly prevented them from doing so. The verse then explains their next intended movement – towards Bithynia, another region within Asia Minor, but again, the Spirit of Jesus intervened. This redirection was crucial, as it eventually led them to Troas and then across the Aegean Sea to Macedonia, initiating the spread of the gospel into Europe. The historical context includes the established Roman rule over these regions, which, while allowing for travel, also presented political and cultural challenges for the early Christian missionaries.
Acts 16 7 Word Analysis
- καί (kai): "and." A common conjunction connecting clauses or ideas.
- διερχόμενοι (dierchomenoi): "going through." Present participle from dierchomai, meaning to pass through, go through, or traverse. It indicates a continuous movement across a region.
- τὴν (tēn): "the." Definite article.
- Γαλατικὴν (Galaikēn): "Galatian." Adjective referring to the region of Galatia.
- χώραν (chōran): "region." Refers to a district or territory, land.
- ἀπὸ (apo): "from." Preposition indicating separation or origin.
- τῆς (tēs): "the." Definite article.
- Βιθυνίαν (Bithynian): "Bithynia." A proper noun, a Roman province in Asia Minor.
- πορευθέντες (poreuthentes): "having gone" or "as they journeyed." Aorist participle from poreuō, to go, journey, travel.
- ἐκώλυσε (ekōluse): "prevented" or "forbade." Aorist active indicative of kōlyō, meaning to hinder, prevent, forbid, restrain. This is a key verb showing the divine action.
- τὸ (to): "the." Neuter definite article.
- Πνεῦμα (Pneuma): "Spirit." Refers to the Holy Spirit. In this instance, "Spirit of Jesus" is a strong assertion of the Spirit's personal identification with Jesus Christ, indicating His deity and active participation in His work.
- Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou): "Jesus." Genitive case, indicating possession or origin. So, "the Spirit of Jesus."
- τοῦ (tou): "the." Genitive definite article.
- ἐπιτρέπειν (epitrepein): "to allow" or "to permit." Present infinitive from epitrepō, meaning to permit, allow, consent. The negation ou (not) makes it "not to allow" or "not to permit."
Words/Group Analysis:
- "Spirit of Jesus": This phrase (Pneuma Iēsou) is significant. While the New Testament often speaks of the "Holy Spirit" or "Spirit of God," attributing the Spirit directly to Jesus underscores His divine authority and His active role in guiding the church. This is consistent with Jesus' promises about sending the Comforter (John 14:16, 16:7).
- "prevented... to permit": The active prevention by the Spirit of Jesus from entering Bithynia (ekōluse... mē epitrepein) highlights the Spirit's direct and decisive control over the direction of the apostolic mission. It was not merely an absence of guidance, but an active restraint.
Acts 16 7 Bonus Section
The "Spirit of Jesus" phrasing (τοῦ Πνεύματος Ἰησοῦ) is a less common, but powerful, designation for the Holy Spirit found in the New Testament. It appears only twice: here in Acts 16:7 and in Revelation 19:10 ("the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy"). This emphasis on Jesus as the source and possessor of the Spirit, alongside God the Father, reinforces the shared divinity of the Godhead and Christ’s active participation in the work of the Spirit within the Church. This stands in contrast to potential contemporary philosophies that might deify or attribute spiritual power to mere men or cosmic forces, firmly anchoring the guiding force to the person and work of Jesus Christ. The prevention in Acts 16:7 underscores the Spirit's intimate knowledge of God's redemptive timeline and His prerogative to direct evangelistic efforts towards His ultimate goals.
Acts 16 7 Commentary
The text illustrates a crucial aspect of apostolic ministry: divine direction through the Holy Spirit. Paul and his team were seeking to obey God's general call to spread the gospel. They likely thought it was God's will to move into Bithynia, given its geographical proximity and potential for evangelism. However, the Holy Spirit, referred to here as the "Spirit of Jesus," actively intervened to reroute them. This divine restraint was not a punishment or a sign of disapproval, but a purposeful redirection that would lead to a greater divine purpose – the evangelization of Europe. It demonstrates that God’s plans for His work can be more specific and strategic than human discernment alone, and that the church is called to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, even when it means altering immediate plans. This is a prime example of the Spirit's sovereign guidance over the expansion of the kingdom.