Acts 16:6

King James Version (KJV)

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia - The Asia mentioned here could not be Asia Minor in general, for Galatia, Phrygia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, and Pamphylia, were provinces of it, and in these the apostles preached; but it was what was called Proconsular Asia, which included only Ionia, Aeolia, and Lydia. The apostles were not suffered to visit these places at this time; but they afterwards went thither, and preached the Gospel with success; for it was in this Proconsular Asia that the seven Churches were situated. God chose to send his servants to another place, where he saw that the word would be affectionately received; and probably those in Proconsular Asia were not, as yet, sufficiently prepared to receive and profit by it.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Throughout Phrygia - This was the largest province of Asia Minor. It had Bithynia north; Pisidia and Lycia south; Galatia and Cappadocia east; and Lydia and Mysia west.

And the region of Galatia - This province was directly east of Phrygia. 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. See the Epistle to the Galatians.

And were forbidden - Probably by a direct revelation. The reason of this was, doubtless, that it was the intention of God to extend the gospel further into the regions of Greece than would have been done if they had remained in Asia Minor. This prohibition was the means of the first introduction of the gospel into Europe.

In Asia - See the notes on Acts 2:9. This was doubtless the region of proconsular Asia. It was also called Ionia. 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 13 were established. Cicero speaks of proconsular Asia as containing the provinces of Phrygia, Mysia, Carla, and Lydia. In all this region the gospel was afterward preached with great success. But now a more important and a wider field was opened before Paul and Barnabas in the extensive country of Macedonia.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

The removals of ministers, and the dispensing the means of grace by them, are in particular under Divine conduct and direction. We must follow Providence: and whatever we seek to do, if that suffer us not, we ought to submit and believe to be for the best. People greatly need help for their souls, it is their duty to look out for it, and to invite those among them who can help them. And God's calls must be complied with readily. A solemn assembly the worshippers of God must have, if possible, upon the sabbath day. If we have not synagogues, we must be thankful for more private places, and resort to them; not forsaking the assembling together, as our opportunities are. Among the hearers of Paul was a woman, named Lydia. She had an honest calling, which the historian notices to her praise. Yet though she had a calling to mind, she found time to improve advantages for her soul. It will not excuse us from religious duties, to say, We have a trade to mind; for have not we also a God to serve, and souls to look after? Religion does not call us from our business in the world, but directs us in it. Pride, prejudice, and sin shut out the truths of God, till his grace makes way for them into the understanding and affections; and the Lord alone can open the heart to receive and believe his word. We must believe in Jesus Christ; there is no coming to God as a Father, but by the Son as Mediator.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

6. Now when. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the reading, “but they went through,” rather than, “now when they had gone throughout.” The Greek construction of vs. 5, 6 implies a division in the narrative at this point. One episode is complete, another begins. This is relevant to the interpretation of the following verses.

Phrygia. An ill-defined area in western Asia Minor (see The Journeys of Paul). The name was used with an ethnological rather than a political significance, and did not at this period indicate a Roman province. The gospel message may already have been carried there by inhabitants of the area who were in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost. Phrygia possesses a special interest for Christians because it later included the churches of the Lycus Valley, Colossae and Laodicea. See Additional Note at end of chapter.

Galatia. That is, the land of the Gauls (Gr. Galatai). One great branch of the Gallic people had moved west into Europe, and occupied territory that came to be known as Gaul, which roughly corresponded to modern France. In the 3d century b.c. another branch of the same people had poured south over Greece and into Asia Minor, where they settled in the central section of the country and absorbed many of the Phrygian people. In turn, the Galatians were later conquered by the Romans, and in 25 b.c., during the days of Augustus Caesar, their territory became a Roman province (see Vol. V, p. 23). The inhabitants spoke a Celtic dialect similar to that used by the Gauls in Western Europe, and retained the quickness of emotion and tendency to sudden change that characterized the Celtic temperament. They readily adopted the Phrygian religion, with its orgiastic worship of the great earth goddess Cybele, in whose temples were found eunuch priests consecrated to her service (see on Gal. 5:12). The chief seat of this worship was the town of Pessinus.

In Gal. 4:13-15 (see comment there) Paul refers to his visit to Galatia, where he seems to have been detained by a serious illness, possibly some affliction of the eyes. Many commentators have understood Paul’s statement about a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7; cf. on Acts 9:18) as referring to an eye malady. Probably this led to a longer stay in this region than Paul at first intended. During this illness the Galatians had opportunity to show themselves singularly devoted to him. He declares that they would have “plucked out” their “own eyes,” if it had been possible to replace his own with them, and thus relieve his suffering. They thought it was their highest “blessedness” to have such a one as Paul among them. They received him “as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.” The memory of that reception made his sorrow all the more bitter, when he later found the Galatians led astray by Judaizing teachers, and he rebuked them for leaving their first love.

Were forbidden. Rather, “having been forbidden,” implying that the Spirit’s prohibition was given soon after the party left the Iconium district, and before they entered Phrygia. See Additional Note at end of chapter.

Holy Ghost. How the Spirit instructed Paul, whether by inner promptings, or by night visions, or by prophecies given through those who had received the gift (cf. ch. 21:4), Luke does not say (cf. on chs. 2:4; 8:29, 39; 13:2). But Paul did know, however he knew it, that God through the Spirit was forbidding him to enter Asia, and then Bithynia (ch. 16:7), and he did not go into either of these regions. For a time he was thus kept out of Asia, with its teeming cities such as Ephesus, Smyrna, and Sardis, which had large Jewish communities, and were great centers of idolatrous worship. Such cities must have made a strong appeal to Paul, but he was completely obedient to the Spirit’s commands. Thus the missionary party was led toward the northwestern coast, not knowing where their next labors would be.

In Asia. See on ch. 2:9; see Additional Note at end of chapter.

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Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 207-8

Every true minister feels a heavy responsibility for the spiritual advancement of the believers entrusted to his care, a longing desire that they shall be laborers together with God. He realizes that upon the faithful performance of his God-given work depends in a large degree the well-being of the church. Earnestly and untiringly he seeks to inspire the believers with a desire to win souls for Christ, remembering that every addition to the church should be one more agency for the carrying out of the plan of redemption. AA 207.1

Having visited the churches in Pisidia and the neighboring region, Paul and Silas, with Timothy, pressed on into “Phrygia and the region of Galatia,” where with mighty power they proclaimed the glad tidings of salvation. The Galatians were given up to the worship of idols; but, as the apostles preached to them, they rejoiced in the message that promised freedom from the thralldom of sin. Paul and his fellow workers proclaimed the doctrine of righteousness by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ. They presented Christ as the one who, seeing the helpless condition of the fallen race, came to redeem men and women by living a life of obedience to God's law and by paying the penalty of disobedience. And in the light of the cross many who had never before known of the true God, began to comprehend the greatness of the Father's love. AA 207.2

Thus the Galatians were taught the fundamental truths concerning “God the Father” and “our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” “By the hearing of faith” they received the Spirit of God and became “the children of God by faith in Christ.” Galatians 1:3, 4; 3:2, 26. AA 208.1

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Paul's Journeys

The Second Missionary Journey of Paul

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