Sha’ul’s Second Missionary Journey ~ Part 3

Note: To examine the graphics in this series, click on them for a pop-up version.

We continue our ongoing story of Sha’ul’s Second Missionary Journey beginning in Acts 16:4.

⁴ As they (Sha’ul, Sila, and Timothy) went on through the towns, they delivered to the people the decisions reached by the emissaries and the elders in Yerushalayim for them to observe.

Besides evangelizing, Sha’ul and his ministry partners conveyed the decisions of the emissaries and elders in Yerushalayim about circumcision and Gentile converts (Acts 15:19). Sha’ul wanted to make clear that Gentiles could believe in Yeshua without adhering to Jewish rites.

⁵ Accordingly, the congregations were strengthened in the faith and increased in number day by day.

No doubt, one of the reasons the congregations in this Gentile-dominated region were strengthened in the faith and increased in number day by day was that the Yerushalayim Council had decided to minimize the burden imposed on Gentile believers.

⁶ They traveled through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia because they had been prevented by the Ruach HaKodesh from speaking the message in the province of Asia. ⁷ When they came to the frontier of Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Yeshua would not let them. ⁸ So, after passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

Sha’ul and his companions passed through the region of Galatia (probably visiting Iconium and Antioch (see map above) and were prevented by the Ruach HaKodesh from speaking the message in the province of Asia. The Spirit of Yeshua also prevented them from turning north into Bithynia. Luke did not indicate why the Ruach constrained Sha’ul’s plans or by what method He made known the restrictions.

Charles Stanley has some interesting insights on this passage:

This change of plans had to be disappointing to Paul, who was prepared to go into a city that was in deep spiritual need. Rather than becoming sullen, he turned northwest to the borders of then Asian territory, hoping to evangelize the cities of Bithynia. But he was stopped once again. At any point, Paul could have resisted the Spirit of God and forcibly preached the Gospel. However, his message would have been empty without the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Troas, Paul had a vision that (see verse 9 below) God now wanted him to go to Macedonia. Because of his obedience in not going in his time frame, the Gospel spread throughout Europe and the Western world. ^[1]

 ⁹ There, a vision appeared to Sha’ul at night. A man from Macedonia was standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”

God gave Sha’ul a vision to communicate His will for the direction his ministry should take, just as He had done with Peter (chap. 10). Sha’ul saw a Macedonian man plead with him to cross over the Aegean Sea to Europe and help them. Thus, Sha’ul seemed restricted from preaching elsewhere because God planned for him to “evangelize” in Macedonia.

¹⁰ As soon as he had seen the vision, “we” lost no time getting ready to leave for Macedonia, for we concluded that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.  ^[2]

This begins the first “we” section in the Book of Acts. It extends until verse 17. The “we” passages are Acts 16:10–17; 20:5–15; 21:1–18; 27:1–37; 28:1–16. The “we” likely indicates that Luke joined Sha’ul’s journey at these points. The “we” passages form a continuous geographically joined narrative when connected. This indicates a single unified source for these narratives, most likely Luke’s memory or the notes he took.

In our next post, we will continue to explore Shaul’s Second Missionary Journey, starting in chapter 6:11.

^[1] “On Holy Ground: A Daily Devotional.” As a side note, my wife and I are really going to miss his wisdom.

^[2] Acts 16:4–10.