Acts 16:10
in Acts 16As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel unto them.
KJV
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
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This verse in Acts 16
Commentary
11 notes on this verseIt should be noted that in these cities Luke was also with Paul. This is evident from the fact that the latter unites his own person with the former, when he says: "we resolved to set out... we sailed a straight course... we stayed."
This site's exposition
Paul had a vision
on Acts 16:9-10
After Paul's vision of a man of Macedonia, the narrative shifts into the first person with the words we got ready to leave for Macedonia. It is the first of the book's we passages, Luke joining as an eyewitness.
This site's exposition
we got ready to leave for Macedonia
Luke writes in the first person from this verse to 16:17, and again from 20:5 through the voyage to Rome in chapters 27 and 28. Irenaeus argued from these passages that Luke travelled with Paul. The first of them begins at Troas, after the vision of Macedonia.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Notably, Luke was with Paul in those cities, as appears from these words in which he includes himself at the same time, saying: We sought, we came by a straight course, and other similar things. [AMMONIUS]
"And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the Gospel unto them." "Assuredly gathering," it says, "that the Lord had called us." That is, inferring, both from the circumstance that Paul saw it and none other, and from the having been "forbidden by the Spirit," and from their being on the borders; from all these they gathered.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And here he does it only in an oblique manner. Nor does he throughout the history once mention his own name, or any one thing which he did or said for the service of Christianity; though Paul speaks of him in the most honourable terms, Colossians iv, 14; 2 Tim. iv, 11; and probably as the brother whose praise in the Gospel went through all the Churches, 2 Cor. viii, 18.
And after he had seen the vision,.... And considered it, and related it to his companions: and when they had well weighed it, and the circumstances of it: immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia; they determined upon it, and took all the proper methods, and made the necessary provisions for it.
Paul only had the vision, but he communicated it to his companions, and they all, upon the credit of this, resolved for Macedonia. As Paul will follow Christ, so all his will follow him, or rather follow Christ with him. They are getting things in readiness for this expedition immediately, without delay.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
We endeavored to go into Macedonia - This is the first place that the historian St. Luke refers to himself: We endeavored, etc. And, from this, it has been supposed that he joined the company of Paul, for the first time, at Troas. Assuredly gathering - Συμβιβαζοντες, Drawing an inference from the vision that had appeared. That the Lord had called us for to preach - That is, they inferred that they were called to preach the Gospel in Macedonia, from what the vision had said, come over and help us; the help meaning, preach to us the Gospel.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia--The "we," here first introduced, is a modest intimation that the historian himself had now joined the missionary party. (The modern objections to this are quite frivolous).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
We endeavored - This is the first instance in which Luke refers to himself as being in company with Paul. It is hence probable that he joined Paul and Silas about this time, and it is evident that he attended Paul in his travels, as recorded throughout the remainder of the Acts . Assuredly gathering - Being certainly convinced.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὡς | hos | When | G5613 → | 500 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὅραμα | horama | vision | G3705 → | 12 times |
| εἶδεν, | eiden | he had seen, | G1492 → | 374 times |
| εὐθέως | eutheos | immediately | G2112 → | 87 times |
| ἐζητήσαμεν | ezetesamen | we sought | G2212 → | 117 times |
| ἐξελθεῖν | exelthein | to go forth | G1831 → | 216 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Μακεδονίαν | makedonian | Macedonia | G3109 → | 22 times |
| συμβιβάζοντες | sumbibazontes | concluding | G4822 → | 7 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| προσκέκληται | proskekletai | he has called | G4341 → | 28 times |
| ἡμᾶς | hemas | us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| εὐαγγελίσασθαι | euangelisasthai | to evangelise | G2097 → | 54 times |
| αὐτούς.¶ | autous | to them. | G846 → | 5565 times |
ὡςWhen
hosG5613 →500 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ὅραμαvision
horamaG3705 →12 times
εἶδεν,he had seen,
eidenG1492 →374 times
εὐθέωςimmediately
eutheosG2112 →87 times
ἐζητήσαμενwe sought
ezetesamenG2212 →117 times
ἐξελθεῖνto go forth
exeltheinG1831 →216 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ΜακεδονίανMacedonia
makedonianG3109 →22 times
συμβιβάζοντεςconcluding
sumbibazontesG4822 →7 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
προσκέκληταιhe has called
proskekletaiG4341 →28 times
ἡμᾶςus
hemasG3165 →1936 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
εὐαγγελίσασθαιto evangelise
euangelisasthaiG2097 →54 times
αὐτούς.¶to them.
autousG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 14:7where they continued to preach the gospel.
it leads to
- Acts 14:21
They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
- Acts 14:15
“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made…
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2
As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of…
- 2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
- Acts 14:21
Through
Acts 26:13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.
it leads to
- Revelation 21:23
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
- Revelation 1:16
He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
- Acts 22:6
About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
- Revelation 21:23
Through
Acts 10:29So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”
it leads to
- Psalms 119:60
I hurried without hesitating to keep Your commandments.
- Psalms 119:60
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.14.1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 34; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts; W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.