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The Vision at Troas (Acts 16:6-11)
In our previous pages we left the apostle, accompanied by Silas and Timothy, delivering to the churches the
decrees that had been ordained at Jerusalem. So far from this being a retrograde movement, as some have supposed,
owing to a confusion between the two separate issues that were before the assembly at Jerusalem (Acts 15), this was
undoubtedly a step towards growth and peace, the inspired comment being:
`And so (or "then indeed") were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily' (Acts 16:5).
Our new section (Acts 16:6 to 19:20), a section fraught with the greatest interest to every believing Gentile (for
in this second missionary journey, the gospel was first proclaimed in Europe) opens with a geographical reference
that has only been fully understood in recent times. Commenting on the words: `Now when they had gone through
Phrygia and the region of Galatia' (Acts 16:6), Conybeare and Howson write:
`We are evidently destitute of materials for laying down the route of St. Paul and his companions. All that
relates to Phrygia and Galatia must be left vague and blank, like an unexplored country in a map'.
All this has, happily, been altered since the completion of the archaeological labours of Sir William Ramsay
previously described. His researches have an important bearing on the dating of the Epistle to the Galatians and
other matters in connection with the churches of Galatia, but we must pass on to consider the purpose of this
journey, as planned by the apostle and actually led by the Lord. The reader is advised to consult the rough map
given overleaf, at each stage in the progress recorded in Acts 16:6 to 18:22, as an intelligent grasp of the geography
of the route is a considerable asset.
Acts 16:6-11
The Vision of the Man of Macedonia
A 16:6-8.
Paul,
a Asia. Preach (Laleo).
NEGATIVE.
`They' Silas,
`Forbidden'. b Bithynia.
Timothy.
Assayed to go.
c Vision appeared.
B 16:9-10.
d Man of Macedonia.
`Enlightened'.
`He', Paul.
d Come over and help us.
c After he had seen the vision.
A 16:10,11.
Luke
POSITIVE.
b Endeavoured to go.
`We' joins
`Called'.
a Preach (Euaggelizo)
them.
unto them.
The structure of this section is simple but nevertheless useful. The reader should notice the unobtrusive way in
which Luke indicates, by the use of the pronoun ` We', his presence at Troas, and then on through the journey up to
Acts 17:1, where the pronoun is again dropped until 20:5 - from which point it continues to the end of the narrative.
The story of the first preaching of the gospel in Europe falls into three parts. First, we have the closing of doors
in Asia Minor, then the opening of the door at Troas, and finally the entry through that newly-opened door into
Macedonia. From the contemplation of this record, one great principle emerges, a principle which is true for all
time, and for all classes of the Lord's people: namely, that the leading of the Lord is just as real when opportunities
for service are closed by Him, as when they are opened. Apart from actually telling the apostle in plain language
that he must cross over to Macedonia, there does not appear to be any other way in which he could have been led,
except by the use of compulsion, which is quite foreign to the Lord's method of dealing with his willing servants.
There may have been also a need to test this little band, as they start on such a momentous journey. What was the
compelling power that had led them thus far? An apparent rebuff would try their temper, would test the genuineness