The Call to Macedonia

On the road. In our last lesson, Timothy joined Paul and Silas, and the churches grew strong. “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia” (16:6), the three friends kept traveling. A way closed. “They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia” (16:6). Forbidden means not allowed. Asia here was not the big continent. It was a Roman area in the west of what is now Turkey, with many towns. A good plan, but not God’s plan. Preaching the word, the good news about Jesus, is always good. Yet the Holy Spirit said no to that place. How did He do it? The Bible does not tell us how the Spirit stopped them. Most likely they understood Him clearly, because they changed their plans. The Spirit leads. The Holy Spirit is God. He is a Person who knows, speaks and guides. God promised, “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go” (Isaiah 48:17). Trusting God’s no. We are not told why God closed this way, and we do not need to know. God sees the whole road, and we see only one step. What we learn. When God says no to a plan, He is still leading you. Keep listening to His Word and keep following Him.

Through Phrygia and Galatia (16:6). After the visits of 16:1-5, where Timothy joined the team and the churches were strengthened, the three missionaries moved on: “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia.” These were inland regions of what is now central Turkey. Forbidden (16:6). “They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.” Asia was the Roman province on the west coast of that land, full of towns and people who needed the gospel. The plan was good, but it was not where God was sending them. Not told how. The Bible does not tell us how the Spirit forbade them, so we do not guess. Most likely the leading was clear, because the whole team changed course at once. A Person who directs. The Holy Spirit forbids, permits and calls. Only a Person does these things. He is God, leading the mission of the church. The Lord who leads. “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go” (Isaiah 48:17). The same Lord who led Israel was leading Paul. No reason given. We are not told why Asia was closed then. God does not always explain Himself, and He does not have to. His character is reason enough to trust Him. Application. Some of God’s best guidance comes as a closed door. When a good plan does not work out, keep serving, keep praying and trust the Lord who leads.

In our last lesson, Timothy joined Paul and Silas. Now the three friends walked through Phrygia and Galatia. To the west was a land called Asia. It had many towns and many people. But the Holy Spirit did not let them preach there. Telling about Jesus is a good thing! So why did God say no? The Bible does not tell us. It does not tell us how the Spirit stopped them either. They most likely understood Him clearly, because they changed their plans. God knows things we do not know. He says, “I lead you in the way you should go.” That is in Isaiah 48:17. When God says no, we can still trust Him.

The Holy Spirit did not let Paul go into Asia. God was leading Paul. God leads us too!

Trying again. “After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them” (16:7). Bithynia was a land to the north. Paul and his friends did not sit still; they tried another way. The Spirit of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is God, and He is the Spirit of Jesus. Jesus had promised His disciples, “I will send Him to you” (John 16:7). So the risen Jesus was leading His friends by His Spirit. Not permitted. To permit means to allow. Twice now, a way they wanted to go was closed. Still moving. “So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas” (16:8). Troas was a city on the coast. The friends kept going in the direction God left open. No grumbling. The Bible does not show Paul complaining. He simply followed. Following Jesus means trusting Him even when we do not understand. Step by step. God did not show them the whole map at once. He led them one step at a time, and each step was good. What we learn. When your plans change, ask Jesus to lead you, and take the next step He gives. He is never lost, even when you feel unsure.

A second closed way (16:7). “After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.” Bithynia lay to the north, a region with cities of its own. The missionaries were not passive; they tried, and the Lord redirected. The Spirit of Christ. The Spirit who stopped them is the Spirit of Jesus. Jesus said of the Helper, “I will send Him to you” (John 16:7), and Paul wrote, “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Romans 8:9). The risen Lord was directing His servants by His Spirit. Permitted and not permitted. The Spirit both forbids and permits. Our plans stand under His authority, and He is free to say yes or no. Down to Troas (16:8). “So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.” Troas was a harbor city at the edge of the sea, and Macedonia lay across the water. Guidance by elimination. God closed Asia to the west and Bithynia to the north. Each closed way moved them toward the coast. They did not see the reason yet, but they kept moving. Faith in the meantime. Troas could have felt like a dead end. Following Jesus includes seasons when we have obeyed and are still waiting to see what comes next. Application. Do not confuse a closed door with God being absent. Keep obeying what you already know, and trust Him with what you do not.

Next the friends came near Mysia. They tried to go north into Bithynia. Again the Spirit did not let them go. The Bible calls Him “the Spirit of Jesus.” Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to His followers. So the Spirit of Jesus was leading them. Paul and his friends did not stop and give up. They kept walking where God let them walk. Soon they came to Troas, a city by the sea. Two ways had closed, but God was still leading. You can trust Jesus when plans change. He knows the way, and He goes with you.

Paul tried to go to Bithynia. The Spirit of Jesus did not let him. God knew a better way!

In the night. “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night” (16:9). A vision is something God shows a person. God was showing Paul where to go. From Macedonia. “A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him” (16:9). Macedonia was a land across the sea from Troas. The Bible does not tell us the man’s name. Pleaded. To plead is to beg with all your heart. The man was not making a small request. Help us. He said, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (16:9). The next verse shows what help they needed: to hear the gospel (16:10). The best help. Food, clothes and kindness are good gifts. But the greatest need of every person is to know Jesus, who forgives sin and gives eternal life. God cares about every nation. The people of Macedonia had never heard Paul preach. God loved them, and He sent His messengers to them. What we learn. Many people near you need the good news. Pray for them by name, and ask God to help you tell them about Jesus.

Horama (16:9). “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night.” Vision is horama (say: HOR-ah-mah), something seen. God gave Paul a sight to understand, not a riddle to fear. The man. “A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him.” Macedonia lay across the sea from Troas, in the north of what is now Greece. The man is not named. He stands for the people of his land who needed what Paul carried. Pleaded. He did not simply invite; he urged and begged. The need was real and pressing. Boetheo. His words were, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Help is boetheo (say: boh-ay-THEH-oh), to come to the aid of someone in need. The Macedonians did not know Paul, but they needed help only the gospel could give. The help defined. Verse 10 explains the call: “to preach the gospel to them.” People’s deepest need is not an easier life but peace with God through Jesus Christ. The open way. Two closed ways were followed by one clear call. God had not stopped the mission; He was directing it. Application. Every person you meet carries the same need as that man of Macedonia. Ask God to give you His heart for people, and to show you whom to help with the gospel.

One night in Troas, Paul had a vision. A vision is something God shows a person. God showed Paul a man from Macedonia. Macedonia was across the sea from Troas. The man stood and begged, “Come over to Macedonia. Help us!” What kind of help did they need? They needed to hear the Good News about Jesus. That is the best help anyone can get. People everywhere need to know Jesus. Some live far away, and some live next door. God loves them all. He wants them to hear that Jesus saves.

Paul saw a man from Macedonia in a vision. The man said, “Come over to Macedonia. Help us!” The people there needed Jesus.

Immediately. “Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia” (16:10). Immediately means right away. They did not wait for a more comfortable time. We. Here the story begins to say we. Luke, who wrote Acts, most likely joined Paul, Silas and Timothy in Troas. From now on he tells parts of the story as someone who was there. Putting it together. They went, “concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them” (16:10). Concluding means putting the pieces together: the closed ways and the vision both pointed to Macedonia. Called by the Lord. The Lord Himself had called them. A call from God is an invitation and a command at the same time. Across the sea. Many Christians see this as the moment the good news first crossed into Europe. Quick to obey. Waiting to obey is a quiet way of saying no. Paul and his friends said yes with their feet. What we learn. When you know what God wants, do it right away: say sorry, help someone, or tell a friend about Jesus today.

Immediately (16:10). “Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia.” There was no delay between the vision and the obedience. They began making plans to cross at once. The first we. Here the account changes from they to we. Luke, who wrote Acts, most likely joined the team at Troas, and from here he writes as an eyewitness of parts of the journey. Concluding together. They acted “concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Paul saw the vision, but the whole team weighed it together and reached one conclusion. God’s guidance is often confirmed among His people. Proskaleomai. Called is proskaleomai (say: pros-kah-LEH-oh-my), to call someone to yourself, to summon. The Holy Spirit used the same word when He set apart Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:2). The Lord summons His servants to His work. Into Europe. Many Christians see this as the moment the good news first crossed into Europe. Prompt obedience. Delayed obedience often turns into no obedience. The team’s quick response showed that they trusted the One who called. Application. What has God already shown you to do? Do not wait for a perfect moment. Obey promptly, and trust Him with what follows.

After the vision, Paul and his friends acted quickly. Right away they got ready to go to Macedonia. They did not wait or argue. They understood that God had called them. He wanted them to tell the Good News there. Luke wrote the book of Acts. Here he begins to say we, not they. So Luke most likely joined them in Troas. Many Christians see this as the Good News first reaching Europe. When God shows you what is right, do it quickly. You can forgive, help, or tell the truth today. Obeying God right away shows that you trust Him.

Paul and his friends got ready right away. They went to tell people about Jesus. We can obey God quickly too!

The Call to Macedonia

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