Bible Strands
Acts 16:7
And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul and his companions arrive at the Mysian border and attempt to enter Bithynia, but are halted by divine intervention. This moment follows the Holy Spirit’s prior prohibition against preaching in Asia (Acts 16:6) and precedes their descent to Troas (Acts 16:8).
The words — ἐπεὶραζον (epeirazon) translates literally as "they were attempting," marking their active effort to cross into Bithynia. The text explicitly states that the Spirit of Jesus withheld permission to block this movement.
The thread — The Spirit’s restrictive action mirrors the Holy Spirit’s prior prevention in Asia (Acts 16:6) and aligns with the Spirit’s directional command to Philip in Acts 8:29. These passages collectively establish the Spirit of Jesus as the active authority over missionary routes (Galatians 4:6; Philippians 1:19).
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to acknowledge that mission pathways are governed by divine permission rather than human strategy. It demands immediate compliance when divine direction contradicts intended destinations.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
Cross-references
- Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
- Philippians 1:19 because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
- Acts 8:29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.”
- Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
- 1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
- 1 Peter 1:11 trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.