The Call to Macedonia
Acts 16:6-10
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Acts.16.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Διηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- δε: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Φρυγιαν: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- Γαλατικην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- χωραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- κωλυθεντες: PART,aor,pass,nom,pl,m
- υπο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αγιου: ADJ,gen,sg,n
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- λαλησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- Ασια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 16:7 (verbal): Immediate parallel sentence: the Spirit again restricts travel — 'they were not allowed/forbidden by the Spirit to enter Bithynia' — repeating the motif of divine prohibition on missionary movement.
- Acts 16:9-10 (structural): Direct narrative continuation: after being forbidden to speak in Asia, Paul receives the Macedonian vision and goes to Europe (Philippi); shows the Spirit redirecting mission rather than merely blocking it.
- Acts 8:29 (thematic): The Spirit actively directs individual missionary action (Philip told to join the Ethiopian's chariot); parallels the theme of Spirit-guided evangelistic decisions in Acts.
- Acts 13:2 (thematic): The Holy Spirit's authoritative role in commissioning and sending missionaries — 'set apart for me Barnabas and Saul' — underscores the motif of Spirit-led mission planning reflected in Acts 16:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- They went through Phrygia and Galatia, and the Holy Spirit forbade them to speak the word in Asia.
- They went through Phrygia and Galatia, and the Holy Spirit forbade them from speaking the word in Asia.
Acts.16.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ελθοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- κατα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Μυσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- επειραζον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Βιθυνιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- πορευθηναι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ειασεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- Ιησου·: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 16:6 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same narrative: the Holy Spirit forbids Paul and companions from entering/proclaiming in certain regions (Asia), using similar language of prohibition/restraint.
- Acts 16:9-10 (thematic): Close structural/thematic parallel: after being prevented from going on, the missionaries receive a vision calling them to Macedonia—showing the Spirit’s directional guidance by prevention and subsequent calling.
- Acts 8:29 (quotation): The Spirit directly speaks to Philip, 'Go up and join this chariot,' paralleling Acts 16:7’s motif of the Spirit giving specific travel/mission directions.
- Acts 10:19-20 (quotation): The Spirit tells Peter to go with certain men, directing his movement and associations—another instance where the Spirit explicitly controls apostolic travel and mission decisions.
- Romans 8:9 (verbal): Uses the designation 'Spirit of Christ' (πνεῦμα Χριστοῦ), paralleling the language 'Spirit of Jesus' in Acts 16:7 and highlighting the theological identification of the Spirit with Christ’s authority in guiding the church.
Alternative generated candidates
- When they came to the border of Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
- When they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
Acts.16.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παρελθοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Μυσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- κατεβησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- Τρωαδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 16:6-7 (structural): Immediate context: the Spirit forbids the missionaries from entering Asia, prompting their route past Mysia and onward to Troas.
- Acts 16:9-10 (structural): Direct continuation: after arriving in Troas Paul receives the Macedonian vision that redirects the mission into Europe (Macedonia).
- Acts 20:5 (verbal): Troas reappears as a rendezvous/stop on Paul's travels—'they waited for us at Troas'—showing its recurring role as a travel hub.
- Acts 20:7 (thematic): An important ministry episode set in Troas (Paul teaching; the Eutychus incident), underscoring Troas as a site of significant congregational gatherings.
- 2 Corinthians 2:12 (verbal): Paul mentions coming to Troas to preach the gospel and finding an open door of ministry there, confirming Troas as a key locus of his travels and work.
Alternative generated candidates
- So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
- So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
Acts.16.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- οραμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- δια: PREP
- νυκτος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Παυλω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ωφθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ανηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Μακεδων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εστως: PART,perf,act,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- παρακαλων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- λεγων·Διαβας: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- Μακεδονιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- βοηθησον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
Parallels
- Acts 16:10 (structural): Immediate narrative follow-up: the vision leads Paul and companions to conclude God is calling them to bring the gospel into Macedonia.
- Acts 10:1-8 (thematic): Cornelius' vision (an angel) prompts a cross-cultural outreach to a Gentile; both passages depict divine visions directing missionary movement to the Gentiles.
- Acts 13:47 (quotation): Pauline mission justified with Isaiah's wording ('a light for the Gentiles'); connects the Macedonian call to the larger theology of Gentile mission.
- Acts 18:9-10 (structural): The Lord's night vision to Paul in Corinth parallels Acts 16:9 as a nocturnal revelation that reassures and directs Paul in his missionary activity.
- Isaiah 49:6 (thematic): Prophetic basis for reaching the nations ('I will also make you a light to the Gentiles'); provides theological background for divine calls to mission like the Macedonian vision.
Alternative generated candidates
- And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia stood there, pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
- And during the night Paul had a vision: a man of Macedonia stood before him, pleading and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Acts.16.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ως: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- οραμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ειδεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ευθεως: ADV
- εζητησαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- εξελθειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- εις: PREP
- Μακεδονιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- συμβιβαζοντες: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- προσκεκληται: VERB,perf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ευαγγελισασθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 1:8 (thematic): Both verses frame the mission as directed beyond Jewish boundaries—witnessing to the ends of the earth/Macedonia as part of the Spirit‑driven advance of the gospel.
- Acts 10:9-16 (structural): Like the Macedonian vision, Peter’s vision is a divine, visionary prompting that breaks down barriers and directs movement toward Gentile mission (Cornelius).
- Acts 13:2-3 (verbal): The sending of Barnabas and Saul by the church under the Spirit’s guidance parallels the missionary commissioning and recognition that God is calling Paul and companions to a specific field.
- Galatians 2:7-9 (thematic): Paul’s recognized calling to the Gentiles corresponds to the conclusion in Acts 16:10 that God had called them to preach to the people of Macedonia (Gentile mission field).
- Romans 1:16 (thematic): The verse’s emphasis on bringing the gospel to those who are not Jews (‘to the Greek’) echoes the missionary purpose expressed in Acts 16:10 to preach to the Macedonians.
Alternative generated candidates
- When he had seen the vision, we at once made ready to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the gospel to them.
- When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
They traveled through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, but the Holy Spirit forbade them to speak the word in Asia.
When they reached Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
During the night Paul had a vision: a man of Macedonia stood there urging him and saying, 'Come over into Macedonia and help us.'
After he had seen the vision, we immediately sought to go into Macedonia, convinced that God had called us to proclaim the gospel there.