Acts 16:9 kjv
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.
Acts 16:9 nkjv
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Acts 16:9 niv
During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Acts 16:9 esv
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."
Acts 16:9 nlt
That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!"
Acts 16 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 16:9 | "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing beseeching him, and saying, Help us come over and help us." | Direct Quote |
| Acts 10:3 | "About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, Cornelius!" | Divine Guidance Through Visions |
| Acts 22:17-18 | "And it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and go out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive your testimony about Me.’" | Divine Instruction in Trance |
| Genesis 12:1-3 | "Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and from your kindred and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you." | God's Call to New Directions |
| Isaiah 49:6 | "He says: “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the Gentiles, That You may be My salvation to the end of the earth.”" | Mission to Gentiles |
| Romans 11:13 | "But I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry," | Apostleship to Gentiles |
| Galatians 2:2 | "I went up because of a revelation and laid before them (though in private discussion with those who seemed to be of influence) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, but which I kept especialy in private with those who seemed to be of importance, lest somehow I should run, or had run, in vain." | Gospel to Gentiles; Divine Direction |
| 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 | "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit..." | Gifts of the Spirit; Guidance |
| Revelation 1:10 | "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet," | Visions in Spiritual State |
| John 4:35 | "Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" | Urgency of Mission |
| Luke 10:2 | "And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" | Need for Laborers |
| Jeremiah 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." | Divine Calling |
| Ephesians 2:11-13 | "Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles were in Christ, alienated and hostile in mind because of your evil deeds. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." | Inclusion of Gentiles |
| Matthew 28:19-20 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”" | The Great Commission |
| 1 Corinthians 9:22 | "To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." | Adapting to reach people |
| Romans 10:14-15 | "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent?" | The necessity of preaching |
| Colossians 1:27 | "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." | Mystery of Christ among Gentiles |
| Philippians 1:5 | "because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." | Partnership in the Gospel |
| Ephesians 6:18 | "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints," | Prayer and Supplication |
| 1 Thessalonians 2:18 | "because I wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us." | Obstacles to Mission |
Acts 16 verses
Acts 16 9 Meaning
The verse describes a vision Paul had during the night: a man from Macedonia pleading for his help. This event marks a pivotal moment, guiding the missionary team’s journey into Europe. It signifies a divine invitation to evangelize a new continent and people.
Acts 16 9 Context
This verse occurs within the narrative of Paul's second missionary journey. Following a decision not to preach in Asia or Bithynia, Paul and his companions, Silas and Timothy, found themselves in Troas. The Holy Spirit’s guidance through the vision in this verse redirected their ministry from Asia Minor towards Europe. This shift was monumental, opening the continent of Europe to the Gospel message and laying the foundation for churches in significant cities like Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth. The vision signifies a direct intervention from God, confirming Paul’s mission and opening a new chapter in early Christianity.
Acts 16 9 Word analysis
- καὶ (kai): "And." A common conjunctive particle, linking clauses or sentences, indicating continuation.
- ὄραμα (horama): "Vision." From horaō (to see). This refers to something seen, typically in a divine or prophetic revelation, distinct from a dream.
- παρέστη (parestē): "Appeared." From paristēmi (to stand by, present, bring before). It signifies appearing or presenting oneself.
- τῷ Παύλῳ (tō Paulō): "To Paul." Dative case, indicating to whom the vision appeared.
- τῇ νυκτὶ (tē nykti): "In the night." Locative case, specifying the time.
- ἀνὴρ (anēr): "Man." Greek word for a male person.
- Μακεδὼν (Makedōn): "Macedonian." Refers to an inhabitant of Macedonia, a region in Northern Greece.
- εἱστήκει (heistēkei): "Was standing." Imperfect tense of histēmi, suggesting a continuous or repeated action in the vision.
- βλέπων (blepōn): "Looking." Present participle of blepō (to see, look at). It indicates an action of seeing.
- πρὸς (pros): "Toward." A preposition indicating direction.
- αὐτὸν (auton): "Him." Accusative pronoun referring to Paul.
- λέγων (legōn): "Saying." Present participle of legō (to say, speak).
- διαβὰς (diabas): "Having come over." Aorist participle of diabainō (to cross over, pass over). It implies crossing from one place to another, likely the Aegean Sea.
- βοήθησον (boēithēson): "Help." Aorist imperative of boētheō (to help, succor, aid). It’s an urgent plea for assistance.
- ἡμῖν (hēmin): "Us." Dative pronoun.
- ἐπιβάς (epibas): "Come over and help." This word is unusual and debated. Some scholars suggest it’s a variant reading or that it might combine epibaino (to mount, embark) and boētheō. The core meaning remains a plea for help across geographical space.
Group analysis:
- Visionary Guidance: The verse illustrates how God continues to guide His servants through supernatural means, similar to angelic appearances and prophetic dreams mentioned elsewhere.
- The Macedonian Call: This is a direct parallel to the "Call to the Gentiles" in Galatians, initiating a critical phase of expanding the Gospel into Europe.
- Urgency and Need: The plea "Help us" highlights the spiritual need of the Macedonian people and the urgency of the Gospel's dissemination.
Acts 16 9 Bonus section
The vision’s description of a "man of Macedonia" serves as a personification of the spiritual need of the European continent. The plea to "come over and help us" reflects the cry of a lost world awaiting the light of the Gospel. This moment signifies the intentional expansion of Christianity beyond its Jewish roots into the gentile world, fulfilling prophecies and God's plan for universal salvation. The Macedonian invitation is a testament to the reciprocal relationship between divine initiative and human obedience in the work of world evangelization.
Acts 16 9 Commentary
This verse records a pivotal divine encounter for the Apostle Paul. In the dark of night, Paul saw a compelling vision that directed the course of his ministry. A man from Macedonia, a region in Greece, stood before him and urgently implored, "Help us, come over and help us." This was not merely a geographical shift; it represented the Gospel’s advance into the Western world. Paul and his companions, sensing the Spirit’s clear direction (v. 6-7 mentioning the Spirit preventing them from going elsewhere), obeyed this call. This "Macedonian Call" underscores God’s sovereign plan in missions and His direct involvement in directing His people to fulfill His purposes. It’s a testament to how God opens doors and provides divine mandates for spreading the good news to new unreached people groups.