Asia Companions Forbidden Galatia Galatian Ghost Holy Kept Message Passed Paul Phrygia Phry'gia Phrygian Preach Preaching Proclaim Province Region Speak Spirit Throughout Traveled
16:6 {4} Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were {d} forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
(4) God appoints certain and determinate times to open and set forth his truth, so that both the election and the calling may proceed of grace.
(d) He does not show why they were forbidden, but only that they were forbidden, teaching us to obey and not to enquire.
16:6 Phrygia. This was a Roman province west of Lycaonia in Asia Minor, running down to the seacoast of the Aegean Sea.
Galatia lay on the north of Lycaonia, and was entirely in the interior. It received its name from a settlement of Gauls, an offshoot of a Gallic invasion of Greece in the third century before Christ. It became a Roman province in A.D. 26 No record is made here of the results of this tour, but as we elsewhere learn of numerous churches in Galatia shortly after this, we are justified in the inference that they were planted at this time.
Forbidden... to preach the word. The Spirit now had other work for them.
Asia. By Asia is meant, not the great quarter of the world so named, but the province so called by the Romans, of which Ephesus was the capital.
16:6 And having gone through Phrygia - And spoken there what was sufficient, as well as in the region of Galatia, being forbid by the Spirit (probably by an inward dictate) to speak as yet in the proconsular Asia, the time for it not being come.
16:6-15 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.
Asia Companions Country Forbidden Galatia Galatian Ghost Holy Kept Message Passed Paul Phrygia Preach Preaching Proclaim Province Region Speak Spirit Throughout Traveled Word
Asia Companions Country Forbidden Galatia Galatian Ghost Holy Kept Message Passed Paul Phrygia Preach Preaching Proclaim Province Region Speak Spirit Throughout Traveled Word
