Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 16:7
After they were come to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
7. were come to Mysia ] The Greek scarcely says this. The preposition would be better rendered over against. The course of the journey seems to have been through Galatia and Phrygia, until they got so far to the west as to be opposite to, and on the borders of, Mysia. From this point they were inclined to go north into Bithynia, rather than further to the west, but were again hindered of their intention.
they assayed ] i.e. ‘made the attempt,’ ‘tried.’ Cp. Coverdale’s Works (Parker Soc.), p. 113: “As long as the physician hath any hope of the recovery of his patient, he assayeth all manner of means and medicines with him.”
but the Spirit suffered them not ] The oldest authorities read “ the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not.” In like manner (Rom 8:9) the “Spirit of God” is called also the “Spirit of Christ.” Cp. also Gal 4:6; Php 1:19 ; 1Pe 1:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mysia – This was a province of Asia Minor, having Propontis on the north, Bithynia on the east, Lydia on the south, and the Aegean Sea on the west.
They assayed – They endeavored; they attempted.
Into Bithynia – A province of Asia Minor lying east of Mysia.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. After they were come to Mysia] They passed through Phrygia into Mysia, which lay between Bithynia on the north, Phrygia on the east, AEolia on the south, and the Mediterranean on the west.
But the Spirit suffered them not] God saw that that was not the most proper time to preach the word at Bithynia; as he willed them to go immediately to Macedonia, the people there being ripe for the word of life. Instead of , the Spirit merely, , the Spirit of JESUS, is the reading of ABCDE, several others, with both the Syriac, the Coptic, AEthiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, Itala, and several of the fathers. The reading is undoubtedly genuine, and should be immediately restored to the text.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Mysia; a little country near Troas.
Bithynia; another province nigh unto the same place, over against Thracia, bordering upon the Black Sea.
The Spirit; the Spirit of Jesus, or of God, as some copies read.
Suffered them not; the journeyings of them that preached the gospel, as well as their words, were directed by God; they might not say, Do, or Go, but according to the will of God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. After they were come toMysiawhere, as being part of Roman Asia, they were forbiddento labor (Ac 16:8).
they assayedorattempted
to go intoor, towards.
Bithyniato thenortheast.
but the Spiritspeakingas before.
suffered them notprobablybecause, (1) Europe was ripe for the labors of this missionary party;and (2) other instruments were to be honored to establish the Gospelin the eastern regions of Asia Minor, especially the apostle Peter(see 1Pe 1:1). By the end of thefirst century, as testified by PLINYthe governor, Bithynia was filled with Christians. “This is thefirst time that the Holy Ghost is expressly spoken of as determiningthe course they were to follow in their efforts to evangelize thenations, and it was evidently designed to show that whereas hithertothe diffusion of the Gospel had been carried on in unbroken course,connected by natural points of junction, it was now to take a leap towhich it could not be impelled but by an immediate and independentoperation of the Spirit; and though primarily, this intimation of theSpirit was only negative, and referred but to the immediateneighborhood, we may certainly conclude that Paul took it for a signthat a new epoch was now to commence in his apostolic labors”[BAUMGARTEN].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
After they were come to Mysia,…. Another country in Asia Minor. It is divided by Ptolomy a into two parts; superior Mysia is bounded by Dalmatia on the west, by Macedonia on the south, by part of Thrace on the east, and by part of the river Danube on the north; inferior Mysia is bounded on the west with part of the river Ciaber and the Danube, on the south with part of Thrace, on the north with the turn of the river Tyra, and on the east with the Euxine Pontus; but this was the European Mysia: the Mysia which seems here intended, was divided into the lesser Mysia by the Hellespont, and had Troas on the south; and into the greater Mysia by Olympus, which was bounded on the west with the lesser Mysia and Troas, on the east with Bithynia, and on the south with Asia, properly so called. By Pliny b it is called Aeolis, and so Jerom says c, it was in his times; sometimes it is called Abretta and Abrettina, and of later years Thya, or Thyria: some suggest it has its name of Mysia from Mysus, the brother of Car d, the father of the Carions; but according to the Talmudists, it had its name from Meshech, the son of Japheth, Ge 10:2 for they say e Meshech,
, “this is Mysia”; Pliny observes f, that there are some authors who assert that the Mysians, Brygians, and Thynnians came out of Europe, from whom they are called Mysians, Phrygians, and Bithynians, in Asia. The inhabitants of Mysia were very despicable; hence the proverb, “ultimus Mysorum”, “the last of the Mysians” g, is used for a very mean and contemptible person. The apostle was willing to preach to the wise and unwise, and disdained not to carry the Gospel to the meanest part of mankind.
They assayed to go into Bithynia; another country in Asia Minor; it makes one province with Pontus, and has the same boundaries; Pontus being at the east, and Bithynia at the west: it was bounded on the north with the Euxine sea, on the east with Galatia, on the south with Asia properly so called, and on the west with the Propontis; according to Pliny h it was called Cronia, afterwards Thessalis, then Maliande, (perhaps Mariandyne), and Strymonis; and Herodotus i reports, that the Thracians going into Asia were called Bithynians, who were first called (as they say) Strymonians, inhabiting Strymon; according to Jerom k, it was formerly called Bebrycia, then Mygdonia, and Phrygia Major, and by the river Iera, or, as Pliny calls it, Hieras, is divided from Galatia; to which agrees Solinus l who says it was before Bebrycia, afterwards Migdonia, and now Bithynia, from Bithynus the king; the king; though others say, it was so called from Bithyne, a daughter of Jupiter;
but the Spirit suffered them not; the Alexandrian copy, and Beza’s most ancient copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read, “the Spirit of Jesus”: so that it was not an evil spirit, or Satan, that hindered them, who sometimes did; but they were under the direction and guidance of the divine Spirit, called, in the preceding verse, the Holy Ghost; however, the Gospel was preached here afterwards, and churches formed; of which
[See comments on 1Pe 1:1].
a Geograph. l. 3. c. 9, 10. b Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 30. c De locis Hebraicis, fol. 96. E. d Herodotus, l. 1. c. 171. e T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 10. 1. f Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 32. g Ciceron. Orat. 24. pro. L. Flacco, p. 785. h Ib. i Polymnia, c. 75. k De locis Hebraicis, fol. 95. L. l Polyhistor. c. 54.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Over against Mysia ( ). This was an ill-defined region rather north and west of Phrygia. The Romans finally absorbed most of it in the Province of Asia.
They assayed to go into Bithynia ( ). Conative imperfect of and ingressive aorist passive infinitive of . Now Bithynia is northeast of Mysia and north of Galatia (province). Clearly Luke means to say that Paul had, when hindered by the Holy Spirit from going west into Asia, gone north so as to come in front of Bithynia. This journey would take him directly through Phrygia and the North Galatian country (the real Gauls or Celts). This is, to my mind, the strongest argument for the North Galatian view in these verses Acts 16:6; Acts 16:7. The grammar and the topography bring Paul right up to Bithynia (north of the old Galatia). It is verses Acts 16:6; Acts 16:7 that make me pause before accepting the plausible arguments of Ramsay for the South Galatian theory. In itself the problem is nothing like so important or so determinative as he makes it. But shall we smash Luke’s grammar to pieces to bolster up a theory of criticism?
And the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not ( ). The same Spirit who in verse 6 had forbidden going into Asia now closed the door into Bithynia. This expression occurs nowhere else, but we have the spirit of Christ (Ro 8:9) and the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Php 1:19). is first aorist active indicative of , old verb to allow.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “After they were come to Mysia,” (elthontes de kata ten Musian) “Then (upon) coming against(very near to) on the outskirts of Mysia,” a northwest province of Asia Minor, separated from Europe only by Propontis, a small territory in that day.
2) “They assayed to go into Bithynia:”(epeirazon eisten Bithunian poreuthenai) “They attempted to go, of their own choice, into Bithynia,” mentioned 1Pe 1:1. It was a Roman province located east of the west maritime province of Asia. They attempted to go out of Asia northward by a land route and were obstructed by the Spirit of the Lord, by Divine intervention into “man’s plans.”
3) “But the Spirit suffered them not.” (kai ouk eiasen autous to pneuma lesou) “But the Spirit (of Jesus) also allowed them not to do it,” or did not permit them to enter Bithynia. How is not explained. In the realm of the Spirit of Christ nothing is to be forced. The message of God is to be diligently proclaimed, fervently taught and preached, but not forced upon unbelievers who stop their ears, harden their hearts, turn their back and walk away. The word of witness does not return to the Lord in vain, when so given, whether then received by the hearer or not, Isa 55:10-11; 2Co 2:14-16. The hindrance may have been, and likely was, thru human instrumentality of passage permit, transportation, or closed roadway overland, etc. God’s Spirit works in Sovereign ways, as He wills, not always as His servants will, Gen 50:19-20; 2Co 12:9-10.
Paul later realized that “things” along the way of life had “fallen out” or “fallen in” for the “furtherance of the gospel,” Php_1:12; Rom 8:28. Joseph’s hindrance from being reared at home, and Moses’ hindrance from being educated by his mother and father, was as surely by the Spirit of God, as their later being used to save their own people from death, Gen 50:20-21. Exo 2:1-10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(7) They assayed to go into Bithynia.The verse describes very vividly the uncertainty produced day by day by this conflict between human plans and divine direction. Bithynia, lying to the north, had, like Pontus, a considerable Jewish population scattered along its shores, and they were inclined to take that as their next field of labour. They were led on, however, as before, westward and not northward. There is no record of any considerable halt in this stage of their journey, and they probably found few favourable openings in a district which, for great part of the way, presented only unimportant villages. The use of the archaic form assayed for essayed, or attempted, calls for a word of notice. (Comp. Act. 9:26.)
The Spirit suffered them not.The better MSS. and versions give the reading, the Spirit of Jesus, which is of some dogmatic importance, as confirming the doctrine that the Spirit stands in the same relation to the Son as to the Father, and may therefore be spoken of either as the Spirit of God, or of Christ (Rom. 8:9), or of Jesus.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Come to Mysia He had arrived, apparently, at the point where the corners of Phrygia, Mysia, and Bithynia meet. Not yet realizing the fulness of his European mission, Paul modestly makes the trial of Bithynia. But the spirit of Jesus (for such is now generally admitted to be the true reading) vetoes that step. His sole conclusion now points his inquiring way toward the Hellespont.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Act 16:7. The Spirit Many manuscripts and versions of undoubted authority read here, The Spirit of Jesus.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
Ver. 7. But the Spirit suffered them not ] The Spirit still lusteth against the flesh, and the flesh against, the Spirit, in the hearts of the regenerate, so that they cannot do what they would, Gal 5:17 . As they cannot do what good they would in regard of the flesh, so neither what evil they would in regard of the Spirit.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
7. ] At this time a Roman province (senatorial: Hadrian, whose favourite province it was, took it from the senate). When they were come to (i.e. to the borders of) Mysia, they attempted to go into B .
The expression . is remarkable, as occurring in all the great MSS., and from its peculiarity bearing almost unquestionable trace of genuineness, the idea being quite untenable that the word has been inserted here, and no where else , on doctrinal grounds. If the report of this journey came from an unusual source , an unusual expression would be accountable.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 16:7 . .: “over against Mysia,” R.V., i.e. , opposite Mysia, or perhaps, on the outskirts of Mysia, cf. Act 27:7 , and Herod., i., 76, , Ramsay, St. Paul , p. 194, Wendt, p. 354 (1888), and Gifford, u. s. , p. 13. If we read for (2), it means that they endeavoured to go out of Asia into the Roman province Bithynia on the north, Ramsay, St. Paul , p. 195. : for a similar use of the verb cf. Act 9:26 , Act 24:6 . , add , see critical note. Doctrinally, the expression shows that the Spirit may be called the Spirit of Christ, Rom 8:9 , or of Jesus, no less than the Spirit of God, Rom., l. c. , Mat 10:20 ; see Westcott, Historic Faith , p. 106.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
After they were = Having.
to = down to. Greek. kata. App-104. to the border of Mysia. Revised Version “over against”.
assayed = were attempting. Greek. peirazo. See Act 15:10.
into. Greek. kata, as above, but the texts read eis.
Bithynia. The province of Bithynia and Pontns, lying on the S. E. shores of the Propontis (Sea of Marmora), and the south shore of the Pontus Euxinus (Black Sea)
the Spirit = the Holy Spirit. App-101. The texts add “of Jesus”, but it was the same Spirit Who sent Paul and Barnabas forth from Antioch (Act 13:2, Act 13:4), and had already hindered Paul and Silas (verses: Act 16:6, Act 16:7). The Spirit promised by the Lord Jesus (Act 2:33. Joh 16:7).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
7. ] At this time a Roman province (senatorial: Hadrian, whose favourite province it was, took it from the senate). When they were come to (i.e. to the borders of) Mysia, they attempted to go into B.
The expression . is remarkable, as occurring in all the great MSS., and from its peculiarity bearing almost unquestionable trace of genuineness,-the idea being quite untenable that the word has been inserted here, and no where else, on doctrinal grounds. If the report of this journey came from an unusual source, an unusual expression would be accountable.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 16:7. , Mysia) as being a part of Asia.-[, they tried) If they had been accustomed to use casting of lots, they would not have neglected to try the matter (put it to the proof) in this way, at least in this place.-V. g.]-, Bithynia) a province distinct from Asia: 1Pe 1:1. Otherwise they would not have tried [assayed: viz. after having been forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach in Asia].- , suffered them not) just as in Asia.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
suffered
R.V. adds “of Jesus”, as in the best authorities.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Bithynia: 1Pe 1:1
Reciprocal: Luk 2:27 – by Act 8:29 – General Act 10:19 – the Spirit Act 11:12 – the Spirit Act 13:2 – the Holy Act 16:6 – forbidden Rom 1:13 – but
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
Act 16:7. Mysia and Bithynia were in another part of Asia Minor than the Asia of the preceding verse. Paul assayed or made plans to do some work in those parts but was not permitted to do so because the Lord had other work for them to do.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
See notes on verse 6
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
7. Here we see the tardiness of the human will to respond to the Holy Ghost, and at the same time a reluctance on the part of Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke to leave Asia, their nativity, and embark on the sea for a country they had never seen. Bithynia is back towards the interior, hence we see their indisposition to go directly to the sea, and consequently an effort on their part to turn east and evangelize those Asiatic states. Here we see the identity of the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of Jesus, as they are synonymous in verses six and seven.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Paul then turned his attention north and proposed to enter the province of Bithynia. It lay along the southern shores of the Black Sea and contained many Roman cities and Jewish colonies. Mysia was another geographical region such as Phrygia located in northwest Asia "through" (Gr. parelthontes, not "by," Act 16:8) which Paul’s party passed to get to Bithynia. Again the Holy Spirit, whom Luke here called "the Spirit of Jesus" (cf. Act 1:1-2), prevented their entering that province. This unusual title of the Holy Spirit highlights Jesus’ leadership in the mission. Other unidentified Christian missionaries evangelized Bithynia (cf. 1Pe 1:1). [Note: See Blaiklock, p. 123.]
Consequently Paul turned west from where he was and proceeded to Troas. This city was a Roman colony, like Antioch of Pisidia and Lystra, located at a very strategic site. It was one of the main seaports from which travelers entered Asia Minor from the West and departed from Asia Minor for the Roman provinces farther west. It was about 25 miles south of ancient Troy and 585 miles from Antioch of Syria.
"To the Greeks, mountains protected but separated people, whereas the sea, while frightening, united people. Therefore Troas, at the mouth of the Dardenelles, was the pivotal port between the land masses of Europe and Asia Minor and the great waterways of the Aegean and Black seas." [Note: Longenecker, p. 458.]