Author: Charlie Garrett

Roman Province of Macedonia.

Friday, 21 April 2023 

Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:10

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

In the previous verse, Paul had seen the vision of a man of Macedonia pleading with him to come over there and help them. With that, Luke now records, “Now after he had seen the vision.”

The words don’t mean “sometime after.” Rather they give the sense of, “Now when he had seen the vision.” As soon as it occurred the next event took place. That is seen in the next word, “immediately.”

As the vision was in the night, it can be assumed that Paul excitedly told the others about what he had seen, and they started planning to make the necessary arrangements to go where they had been called to. With that, the first “we” section of the book of Acts begins. Until this point, it has been a narrative about others, such as “Paul and Barnabas did this,” or “they went to Troas.”  However, the words now go to the first-person plural, saying, “we sought to go to Macedonia.”

The obvious conclusion is that Luke had joined them in Troas. Nothing is said about how this came about. It could be that he was living there at the time, or maybe Paul had sent word to him to join the group there. However it occurred, Luke has become a part of the ongoing narrative. Together with the others, they were “concluding that the Lord had called us.”

Paul was certain that the vision wasn’t just a dream. Rather, like Peter’s vision before, he understood it to be of divine origin, having been directed by the Lord. It is worthy of note that some manuscripts (such as the Alexandrian, Vulgate, and Ethiopian) say “God” instead of “Lord.” As Jesus is God, the change doesn’t affect the narrative substantially.

As for the use of “us” in these words, it clearly indicates that Luke was immediately considered a part of the team and he was an integral part of the calling that took place. This not only identifies him as a chronicler of the events of Acts, but he was also an evangelist in his own right. This is seen in the fact that he was a part of those called “to preach the gospel to them.”

There are several things that become obvious when considered. The efforts of the men in the Asian provinces were frustrated. It can be certain that wherever they were, they attempted to share the gospel without any success or that they knew their efforts were not fruitful in their evangelization at that time.

With each movement of the team, it was as if their feet were being led until they came to Troas. Upon arrival there, they were suddenly directed by Paul’s vision. At the same time, Luke had joined them. And with the vision of the calling of the man from Macedonia, it foreshadowed the presence of the Lord in that area. Thus, the providence of God is behind each step of the journey.

Life application: The events occurring in Acts are a descriptive account of what occurred. This includes Luke’s inclusion of himself in the narrative at this time. Nothing has been prescribed for the reader to do or to apply to his own walk with the Lord. The fact that Paul had a vision does not mean that visions are to be expected in our own lives to direct where we should go or what we should do.

In fact, supposed visions in more recent times have led to some of the greatest apostasies of the faith. The visions of Joseph Smith and Ellen G. White have led millions of people into false religion. The only conclusion that can be made is that their visions were either made up lies or that they were of satanic origins. They cannot be of God because they contradict the writings found in Scripture.

This is true with innumerable other visions that people have claimed and continue to claim to this day. Where will you put your trust? It is so easy to be led astray by convincing-sounding people who claim to have a pipeline to the divine. But the fact is that you already have one. It is the Bible.

God has given His word, and He has provided what you need to know concerning your walk before Him. It is sufficient. Stick to the word and don’t bother with the claims of others who say they have more than the word to offer you. Such things are unnecessary and unhelpful. Be assured of this.

Lord God, thank You for Your word. It is sufficient to guide us on our path as we walk in Your presence from day to day. Help us to spend our time wisely by searching out its treasures and rightly applying its precepts. Surely in this, we will be pleasing to You. Thank You for Your precious and sacred word. Amen.

Virginia train tracks.

Thursday, 20 April 2023

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

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

Note: The verse as presented by the NKJV misses the mark. A far closer rendering, that of the Literal Standard Version, will be used: “And a vision through the night appeared to Paul—a certain man of Macedonia was standing, calling on him, and saying, ‘Having passed through to Macedonia, help us.’”

The previous verse told of the company of missionaries arriving at Troas. Once there, it now says, “And a vision through the night.” One can only speculate, but it appears that this is the very night that they arrived in Troas. No sooner had they arrived than a vision of the night “appeared to Paul.”

As the leader of the company and as the apostle to the Gentiles, the vision was directed to Paul. This is not unlike what happened to Peter previously in Acts 10 when he had a vision calling him to Caesarea to preach to the house of Cornelius. In the case of Paul, the vision concerned “a certain man of Macedonia.”

The group was currently in the province of Asia, but the call is from a Grecian province in Europe to the west. Of the area, Albert Barnes says –

“Of Macedonia – This was an extensive country of Greece, having Thrace on the north, Thessaly south, Epirus west, and the Aegean Sea east. It is supposed that it was populated by Kittim, son of Javan, Genesis 10:4. The kingdom rose into celebrity chiefly under the reign of Philip and his son, Alexander the Great. It was the first region in Europe in which we have any record that the gospel was preached.”

Of this man of Macedonia, Luke records that he “was standing.” The first verb is imperfect and the second is perfect. The idea is that he was standing and remained standing. While standing, he was “calling on him.”

One can think of Paul looking out into the vision and seeing a man who is standing, and the guy is beckoning to him, maybe waving his arms or folding his hands as if pleading. In this state of beckoning, he was “saying, ‘Having passed through to Macedonia, help us.’”

In other words, he is essentially saying, “You are over there. You should be over here. Once you have passed over to this side, you can help us.” How the man is identified as a Macedonian is not stated. It could be that the summons to Paul was from the west, and so as he looked out over the water toward Macedonia, he identified the man as Macedonian. Or it could be his clothing or speech identified him. However it came to him, Paul understood who he was and the substance of his words.

Life application: With only the Hebrew Scriptures, combined with their personal knowledge of the Lord, the missionaries went forth to proclaim the gospel. As such, it is not unexpected that visions would appear to lead the men concerning what they were to do. This is true with Peter, Ananias, and Paul.

The contents of the Bible were not yet compiled. Therefore, at times it was needed for the Lord to personally intervene in the lives of these men, directing them according to a set and determined plan. With the Bible now complete, we have the necessary instructions to follow through with the task of spreading the gospel.Although we should not expect visions to direct our feet, we can be certain that the Lord is directing them, nonetheless.

Those things He wants us to succeed at will succeed. Those things which are not supposed to occur will not come to pass. Our job is not to sit and wait for visions, but to be obedient to the word. The Lord will take care of the details according to His infinite wisdom.

Lord God, we know that when we are living according to Your will, You will lead our steps and keep us on the path that You would have us take. Help us to act by directing our efforts toward accomplishing our part of the Great Commission. Give us wisdom, boldness, and the opportunity to be a part of continuing the growth of the church until the day it is complete and You call us home. Amen.

Mysia and Troas.

Wednesday, 19 April 2023

So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. Acts 16:8

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse revealed the inability of the missionary team to enter Bithynia because the Spirit would not allow them to. With that, it next records, “So passing by Mysia.”

Rather, the verb is an aorist participle, “So having passed by Mysia.” This doesn’t mean that they avoided the area altogether, but that they did not preach there. From their previous location, they had to travel through Mysia to get where they next headed, which is that “they came down to Troas.”

Their travels took them from an area of the highlands to the coastal area where the well-known seaport of Troas was. Troas, or Alexandria Troas, is a city on the northeastern coast of the Aegean Sea which is the western boundary of Asia Minor. Of this area Albert Barnes notes –

“This was a city of Phrygia or Mysia, on the Hellespont, between Troy north, and Assos south. Sometimes the name Troas or Troad, is used to denote the whole country of the Trojans, the province where the ancient city of Troy had stood. This region was much celebrated in the early periods of Grecian history. It was here that the events recorded in the Iliad of Homer are supposed to have occurred. The city of Troy has long since been completely destroyed. Troas is several times mentioned in the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Timothy 4:13; Acts 20:5.”

From this area, it is possible to sail off to other areas, and that is exactly what will be needed as the missionaries are led by the Spirit.

Life application: As noted in the commentary of the previous two verses, the hindrances placed before the group are not fully explained by Luke. It can only be speculated concerning what it means that the Holy Spirit kept them from preaching in the province of Asia or that the Spirit did not permit them to go into Bithynia. For all we know, there may have been some sort of problem in the region of Asia, such as an uprising or a time of mourning for a leader that had died. Maybe there was an arbitrarily applied lockdown because of a pandemic.

Whatever the case, and the speculation could go on indefinitely, the group understood that the timing of the surrounding events precluded them from preaching in this area. As they were being led by the Spirit and their feet had arrived in this area at that particular time, they knew that the Lord had other intentions for them.

If you are a believer in Christ, then you are “in Christ.” By default, the things that happen around you are as they should be. It is our job to respond to the events as they come and attempt to discern what God’s will for us is. This can be difficult because it won’t be written on signposts. Rather, throughout your day, talk to the Lord. Acknowledge His presence and ask Him to guide you accordingly.

Whatever happens will ultimately be known to the Lord. Nothing occurs that He is not aware of. But this doesn’t mean we are not to act. The more we include Him in our thoughts, prayers, and actions, the better off we will be in our own minds concerning what occurs.

At times, Paul sat in a Roman prison. He could say, “Well, this isn’t where the Lord wants me.” But that is not at all what he said. And more, he didn’t give up while sitting there. He continued to rely on the Lord and tell people about Jesus. He accepted that he was exactly where the Lord intended him to be. Just because he may not have liked his surroundings, it doesn’t mean he didn’t accept them as the will of the Lord.

Keep close to the Lord at all times. Include Him in all you do. And be sure to acknowledge His will as being a part of where you are at any given moment.

Lord God, help us to live in Your presence acknowledging that You are with us and directing us at all times. Our denial of this doesn’t mean it isn’t true. It would just mean that we have failed to accept that You are with us. But You are. And so, Lord, help us to realize this and remain faithful to You no matter what. Amen.

Bithynia.

Tuesday, 18 April 2023 

After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. Acts 16:7

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

In the previous verse, Luke recorded that Paul and his company had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia. However, the Holy Spirit had stopped them from preaching in Asia. With that remembered, it now says, “After they had come to Mysia.”

The meaning is not that they came “into Mysia,” which was a province of Asia minor. Rather, the word kata is used. It signifies “over against.” They had come as far as (over against) Mysia. Mysia was a district in northwest Anatolia that adjoined the Sea of Marmara on the north and the Aegean Sea to the west.

From this point in their journey, it then says that “they tried to go into Bithynia.” Bithynia was a region, a kingdom, and a Roman province also located in the northwest area of Asia Minor. It bordered the Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus, and the Black Sea. Mysia was to its southwest. The men attempted to go into this region, “but the Spirit did not permit them.”

In the previous commentary, various suggestions of what this meant were given. This does not appear to be an active manifestation of God, such as when the Egyptians were actively hindered from coming near Israel by the pillar of cloud as those fleeing passed through the Red Sea.

Rather, what seems likely is that they simply were unable to successfully travel through this area for some unknown reason. They were hindered in their travels and took it as a sign from God that it was not His intention for them to go into this area yet. Rather, there were other areas He would have them evangelize first. This appears certain from the contents of verse 16:9.

As a side note, some manuscripts say, “the Spirit of Jesus” rather than “the Spirit.” If that is the true original, then it is a unique phrase, found only here in Scripture. If it is not original, it may have come from a margin note that later found its way into those manuscripts. Such a rare phrase is not unheard of. For example, the phrases “the Spirit of Christ,” “the Spirit of His Son,” and “the Spirit of Jesus Christ” are also seen in the New Testament.

The inclusion of the name of Jesus, if a later insertion, may have come about to avoid anyone thinking “These men were hindered by an evil spirit.” To clarify the matter, a scribe may have made an insertion with the name Jesus which was later assumed to be part of the original. As always, such things should not cause the reader to assume that we have a fallible word. Rather, it should encourage us to contemplate the matter and think about why such things have come about.

Life application: To understand the difficulty of accurately translating a verse from the original to English, or how an insertion for clarity could later be thought of as original, we can take a very simple sentence from the Bible, Genesis 1:1, and make a comparison of a few translations. First, the original says –

b’reshit bara Elohim eth ha’shamayim v’eth ha’arets

a direct translation would be –

“In beginning created Elohim the heavens and the earth.”

Note that the two uses of eth in the Hebrew are not translatable. Rather, the word is an untranslatable mark of the accusative case, being generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition.

A few translations of this verse are –

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (KJV)
In the beginning, God created the universe. (ISV)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (NIV)
In the beginning God created heaven, and earth. (Douay-Rheims)
In [the] beginning God created the heavens and the earth, (LSV)
In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. (Amplified)
In the beginning God formed the heavens and the earth. (SLT)

These are but a few of the variations of this verse. Notice how the KJV says “heaven” instead of “heavens.” Later, they will translate the exact same word as “the air” (Genesis 1:26, etc.), “the heavens” (Genesis 2:1, etc.), or some other variant. Being a plural word, their translation is wrong in Genesis 1:1. Further, the word “the” before beginning is not in the Hebrew and should be italicized as is normal with that translation for inserted words.

The word elohim at times means “gods” as in something other than the true God. Thus, the Amplified Bible both translates the word and includes it in parenthesis for clarity. It also explains the meaning of the word bara as an act of creation ex nihilo.

The SLT says “formed” without any explanation. Therefore, one might assume that the matter already existed, and God simply formed the universe from that preexisting matter. But another word, yatsar, is used to describe such a process, such as in the forming of man from the dust.

By looking over the differences in such translations, one can learn quite a bit about what is going on in the minds of the translators. But remember, this is a very simple sentence. Imagine how varied translations can be in longer or more complicated verses! Don’t rush into judging translations until you have studied and thought through what is going on.

The study of Scripture is something that we can and should spend our whole lives pursuing. Be pleased to spend your time wisely and consider what God is telling us in this precious word! Study! Consider! Seek out! There is so much treasure to be found here.

Thank You, O God, for the wonderful word You have given us. And thank You for those who have taken the time to translate it so that we can have a sense of what the original languages are telling us. Help us to consider this word all our days, pondering its secrets and learning from its truths. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Roman provinces including Phrygia and Galatia.

Monday, 17 April 2023

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. Acts 16:6

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse noted the strengthening of the churches that Paul and his team visited and how their numbers increased daily. With that, it now says, “Now when they had gone through Phrygia.”

Phrygia was mentioned along with many other areas in Acts 2:10 at the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Those from there who had come to faith in the Lord at that time would surely have gone back and met together, telling others about their faith in the Lord. Phrygia was the largest of the provinces of Asia Minor. Bithynia was to its north, Pisidia and Lycia were to its south, Galatia and Cappadocia were more easterly, and Lydia and Mysia were in a westerly direction.

Paul and his company traveled throughout this district, probably helped by a listing of the locations where believers were – as recorded and maintained by those in Jerusalem. This is speculation, but it is likely. With that, it next says, “and the region of Galatia.”

Rather, the word translated as Galatia is an adjective, “and the Galatian region.” This was, as noted, east of Phrygia. Of this area, Albert Barnes says –

“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.”

The area will be noted again in Acts 18:23 and then the district will be noted in 1 Corinthians, Galatians, 2 Timothy, and 1 Peter. It is the location where the church of the Galatians that brought so much frustration and heartache to Paul is located. As Gentiles, they had turned from the faith of Christ and to the imposition of circumcision. As such, they were making themselves debtors to the whole law (Galatians 5:3).

For now, and with their travels through the region complete, it next says, “they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit.” Nothing is said of how this occurred. Some think it was by direct revelation, such as speaking to Paul. However, Luke will normally detail such intimate occurrences.

It could be that they could not find safe travel, guides to lead them, enough resources to effectively set out, or whatever. They knew they were being led by the Spirit and so obvious hindrances to their forward motion would indicate being frustrated to proceed by the Spirit. This is only conjecture, but Luke’s careful recording of such things seems to necessitate that this is what is meant. What they were unable to do was “to preach the word in Asia.”

This may make the thought above even more specific. It could be that they started into the area and simply had no effective evangelization at all. This would mean the area was not yet ready to accept what they would later openly acknowledge. Whatever the situation, this is not Asia as we think of in modern times. It is an area of the Roman empire already mentioned in Acts 2:9. Barnes notes that it is the area of proconsular Asia, also called Ionia. Again, he provides more detailed information on the area –

“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 Revelation 1-3 were established. Cicero speaks of proconsular Asia as containing the provinces of Phrygia, Mysia, Carla, and Lydia.”

Life application: The area of Asia will be evangelized later in Acts, being noted many times before the book closes out. It will also be mentioned in 1 & 2 Corinthians, 2 Timothy, 1 Peter, and Revelation. For whatever reason, the team was unable to evangelize the area at this time. More frustrations on where to go will arise in the next verses, but eventually, a different direction for them to travel will be made evident.

The Lord is all-knowing, and He knows what is best, when it is best, and every detail associated with how to proceed at such times for the best result. Therefore, if you are encountering a time of frustration in proceeding with something concerning evangelism, it may simply not be time for it to happen. Instead, look for another opportunity and wait on the Lord’s timing for what you had initially planned.

There are many places that were once unwilling to hear the gospel message that later accepted it wholeheartedly. There are missionaries who died while on the mission field with no converts. And yet, that occurs in areas where great success eventually was realized. Events like this show us that God is in control of what is going on and that His will is being worked out through us and our actions.

So don’t get frustrated if you seem to be hitting a wall in your efforts. The mission team that Paul was leading certainly faced impenetrable walls as they went. And yet, they picked up and moved on, knowing that the Lord was guiding their steps. Remember this, and don’t let setbacks stop you altogether. The Lord will lead as you continue. We can be sure of this, even if we cannot be sure of the “what and when” of the events ahead.

Glorious Lord, we know that You have planned out the paths to be taken so that the whole world will be evangelized. It has been a long and often difficult track for many, but Your plan is being realized. As this is so, help us in our own efforts to know which way to turn so that Your will for us will be realized in our actions. Amen.