Paul’s Footsteps #80

Footsteps #80

After revisiting the places that he had been in his first journey, Paul decided to go southwest, possibly to Ephesus, in the province of Asia, but the Holy Spirit prevented him from doing so. He then moved north, trying to go to Bithynia, but again in some undisclosed way the Spirit prevented him from going there. Because he already was passing through Mysia, Paul’s only option was to go westward to the seaport of Troas, from where he could sail in a number of directions.  

In a night vision, however, God showed him he should sail across the Aegean Sea to Macedonia. When his companions learned about the vision, they concluded that God had indeed called them to share the gospel with the Macedonians. 

The words ‘forbidden by the Holy Spirit’ (Acts16:6) intrigue me. It is obviously implied in this that their own plans would have led them to turn their steps to the region from which they thought would bring the best results. The teeming cities, like Ephesus, Smyrna, and Sardis, with large Jewish populations, and great centres of idolatrous worship, were naturally attractive to one who was seeking with all his energy a rapid expansion of the kingdom of his Lord. But in ways which we are not told, by inner promptings, visions of the night, or by the inspired utterances of those among their converts who had received the gift of prophecy, they were led on, step by step, towards the north-western coast. Only then Paul receives the vision to go to Macedonia. Once in Macedonia, they travelled to Philippi where they established the first European congregation. 

Whenever Paul arrived in a city, his practice was to visit the local synagogue on Sabbath in order to witness to the Jews (Acts.13:14, 42, 44; 17:1, 2; 18:4). That in Philippi he and his group went to a riverside to pray on the Sabbath, probably means there was no synagogue in the city.  

In the absence of Jewish opposition Paul’s labours were fruitful, Lydia, one of the women by the river that they met, was baptised along with her household. She became a pillar of the Philippian church

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