Acts 16:6
in Acts 16After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
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,
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This verse in Acts 16
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThey were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia, etc., up to Passing into Macedonia, help us. Truly the Lord is terrible in counsel above the sons of men. One promises to follow the Master in everything and is not allowed; …
This site's exposition
forbidden of the Holy Ghost
on Acts 16:6-8
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, the mission meets a closed door named as the Spirit's own act, not circumstance, the same Spirit who ordained the mission at 13:2 now redirecting it. Coming to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not, a second door shut in as many verses, Luke naming the Spirit as guide by negative direction before any positive word comes. Passing by Mysia without preaching there, they come down to Troas, the coastal city where the guidance will finally turn positive.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
In Asia and Bithynia the Spirit forbids the apostles to speak the word, foreknowing that the heresy of those who fight against the spirits will prevail.
"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," having left Phrygia and Galatia, they hastened into the interior. For, it says, "After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not." Wherefore they were forbidden, he does not say, but that they were "forbidden," he does say, teaching us to obey and not ask questions, and showing that they did many things as men.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"They were not permitted by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia." Why they were forbidden to preach in Asia, he does not say, but that it was forbidden to them, he did say, teaching us thereby to obey and not to demand …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And having gone through Phrygia - And spoken there what was sufficient, as well as in the region of Galatia, being forbid by the Spirit (probably by an inward dictate) to speak as yet in the proconsular Asia, the time for it not being come.
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia - The Asia mentioned here could not be Asia Minor in general, for Galatia, Phrygia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, and Pamphylia, were provinces of it, and in these the apostles preached; but it was what was called Proconsular Asia, which included only Ionia, Aeolia, and Lydia. The apostles were not suffered to visit these places at this time; but they afterwards went thither, and preached the Gospel with success; for it was in this Proconsular Asia that the seven Churches were situated.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
At this time must have been formed "the churches of Galatia" (Ga 1:2; 1Co 16:1); founded, as we learn from the Epistle to the Galatians (particularly Ga 4:19), by the apostle Paul, and which were already in existence when he was on his third missionary journey, as we learn from Ac 18:23, where it appears that he was no less successful in Phrygia.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Throughout Phrygia - This was the largest province of Asia Minor. It had Bithynia north; Pisidia and Lycia south; Galatia and Cappadocia east; and Lydia and Mysia west. And the region of Galatia - This province was directly east of Phrygia. The region was formerly conquered by the Gauls. They settled in it, and called it, after their own name, Galatia. The Gauls invaded the country at different times, and no less than three tribes or bodies of Gauls had possession of it. Many Jews were also settled there. It was from this cause that so many parties could be formed there, and that so much controversy would arise between the Jewish and Gentile converts. See the Epistle to the Galatians. And were forbidden - Probably by a direct revelation. The reason of this was, doubtless, that it was the intention of God to extend the gospel further into the regions of Greece than would have been done if they had remained in Asia Minor. This prohibition was the means of the first introduction of the gospel into Europe. In Asia - See the notes on Act 2:9. This was doubtless the region of proconsular Asia. It was also called Ionia. Of this region Ephesus was the capital; and here were situated also the cities of Smyrna, Thyatira, Philadelphia, etc., within which the seven churches mentioned in Rev. 1–3 were established. Cicero speaks of proconsular Asia as containing the provinces of Phrygia, Mysia, Carla, and Lydia. In all this region the gospel was afterward preached with great success. But now a more important and a wider field was opened before Paul and Barnabas in the extensive country of Macedonia.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| διῆλθον | dielthon | they passed through | G1330 → | 43 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Φρυγίαν | phrugian | Phrygia | G5435 → | 3 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Γαλατικὴν | galatiken | Galatian | G1054 → | |
| χώραν | choran | region | G5561 → | 28 times |
| κωλυθέντες | koluthentes | having been forbidden | G2967 → | 23 times |
| ὑπὸ | hupo | by | G5259 → | 219 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁγίου | hagiou | Holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| πνεύματος | pneumatos | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| λαλῆσαι | lalesai | to speak | G2980 → | 294 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγον | logon | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἀσίᾳ, | asia | Asia, | G773 → | 17 times |
διῆλθονthey passed through
dielthonG1330 →43 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
ΦρυγίανPhrygia
phrugianG5435 →3 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ΓαλατικὴνGalatian
galatikenG1054 →
χώρανregion
choranG5561 →28 times
κωλυθέντεςhaving been forbidden
koluthentesG2967 →23 times
ὑπὸby
hupoG5259 →219 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
ἁγίουHoly
hagiouG40 →220 times
πνεύματοςSpirit
pneumatosG4151 →378 times
λαλῆσαιto speak
lalesaiG2980 →294 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
λόγονword
logonG3056 →329 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
Ἀσίᾳ,Asia,
asiaG773 →17 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 11:12The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s home.
it leads to
- Acts 8:29
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 3:22
And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,
- Acts 8:29
Through
Galatians 1:2and all the brothers with me, To the churches of Galatia:
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:1
Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia:
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Philippians 4:21
Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings.
- 1 Corinthians 16:1
Through
Acts 18:23After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
it leads to
- Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
- Acts 14:22
Through
Acts 16:7And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.
it leads to
- Philippians 1:19
because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
- Galatians 4:6
And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
- Romans 8:9
You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong…
- Philippians 1:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 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); Bede, Commentary on Acts; 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; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.