Acts 16:7

Acts 16:7

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

a. NLT: Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.

b. NIV: When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

c. YLT: Having gone toward Mysia, they were trying to go on toward Bithynia, and the Spirit did not suffer them,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And when they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.

e. Worrell Translation: And, having come over against Mysia, they were trying to go on into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;

f. Wuest Translation: And having come down to the borders of Mysia, by a trial-and-error method they kept on attempting to discover whether it was right to go to Bithynia. But the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them to do so.

g. Peshitta Eastern Text: And when they came to the country of Mysia, they wanted to go from thence to Bithynia: but the spirit of Jesus permitted them not.

1. “After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia…”

a. After they were come [Strong: 2064 erchomai er'-khom-ahee middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) eleuthomai el-yoo'-thom-ahee, or (active) eltho el'-tho, which do not otherwise occur) to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.]

b. to [Strong: 2596 kata kat-ah' a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.]

c. Mysia [Strong: 3465 Musia moo-see'-ah of uncertain origin; Mysia, a region of Asia Minor:--Mysia.]

d. they assayed [Strong: 3985 peirazo pi-rad'-zo from 3984; to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:--assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt(-er), try.]

e. to go [Strong: 4198 poreuomai por-yoo'-om-ahee middle voice from a derivative of the same as 3984; to traverse, i.e. travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.); --depart, go (away, forth, one's way, up), (make a, take a) journey, walk.]

f. into [Strong: 2596 kata kat-ah' a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.]

g. Bithynia [Strong: 978 Bithunia bee-thoo-nee'-ah of uncertain derivation; Bithynia, a region of Asia:--Bithynia.]

1). Saint Paul The Traveller And Roman Citizen, William M. Ramsay, pp 194, 195. “They therefore kept to the north across the Asian Phrygia with the intention of entering the adjoining Roman province Bithynia; but when they came opposite Mysia, and were attempting to go out of Asia into Bithynia, the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not. They therefore kept on towards the west through Mysia, without preaching in it (as it was part of Asia), until they came out on its western coast at the great harbor of Alexandria Troas.”

2.  “…but the Spirit suffered them not.”

a. but [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. Spirit [Strong: 4151 pneuma pnyoo'-mah from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind.]

1). All the translations except the KJV and YLT have “the Spirit of Jesus”, while the KJV and the YLT has “the Spirit”. This is because the other translations use different Greek texts.

2). Acts in Action, Gordon Lindsay: Chapter 16 of Acts is an extraordinary study of the sensitivity of Paul to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It reveals how God uses various means to lead His people into His perfect will. Upon departing from the cities of Galatia, the apostles had a decision to make. Should the party turn east and go to Asia proper? The Spirit spoke (no doubt by prophetic utterance) that they should not go into Asia. Further instruction was not given at the time, but the apostles at least knew their mission lay to the west. After several weeks of hard traveling they came to an area located south of Bithynia. Was Bithynia where God wanted them? Again the Spirit suffered them not to go there, but revealed no more. In their journey westward they finally reached the seaport of Troas. That night God gave Paul a vision, the result of which was to affect the history of the world.