"Into New Regions"

        "Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sough to go

        to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach

        The gospel to them"                                                  ACTS 16:10

         Passing through the provinces of Phrygia and Galatia, Paul completes his work of revisiting and strenghtening the churches founded on his first journey. Now he wants to strike out into other areas to establish new churches. But where is he to go?

        We will see that on this second journey, Paul strategy generally is to go to major commercial and administrative cities where there is a Jewish synagogue and from where the Gospel can expand easily. Thus, it appears that his intention in this instance is to head across asia Minor ( modern turkey) in a southwesterly direction to Ephesus, a major Aegean Sea port city. However, Luke tells us Paul and his team "were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in (the province of ) Asia we are not told how the Spirit communicates this denial; Dr. Simon Kistemaker, in his commentary on Acts, speculates that Silas, who was a prophet (15:32), received the Spirit directives. In any case, the southwestern corner of Asia is barred to Paul. He then Looks north to the province of Bithynia. Along the southern coast of the Black Sea, but the spirit does not permit him to go in that direction either Essentially boxed in. Paul and his companions keep moving west until they come to the Aegean port city of Troas.

         It is here that God finally provides clearer direction. Paul receives a vision of a Macedonian man, recognizable by his speech  and clothing, pleading with Paul to come and help his people. With that, Paul and his companion ( here identified as "we" for the first time; Luke is now traveling with Paul) make immediate plans to cross the Aegean to the continent of Europe to preach the Gospel there.

        What a clear picture we are given here of Jesus strategically building His church. For reasons that are not specified, it is His will at this time that Paul move into Europe. Bypassing Asia and Bithynia. In just a couple of years, however. As he completes his second journey, Paul will visit Ephesus with the Spirit's blessing (18:19), and the city will be a lengthy stop on his third journey (19:1-20:1). From it all who dwell in the province of Asia will hear the Good News (19:10). And Bithynia,Kistermaker notes, will eventually become a Christian stronghold and the site of several important councils of the church. But in His timing Christ wants Paul in Macedonia and Greece first.

         Paul kept encountering closed doors. Have you ever experience this sort of "prohibitive guidance"? Did you, like Paul, keep the faith and go on seeking God's will as God closes doors to you, thank Him for that grace and move ahead, walking in His revealed will. Patiently He will renew your strength.