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to go to Asia: the time is not right yet. This will come later in Chapter 19 when he will be
released by the Holy Spirit to go to Ephesus.

If God had told Paul at this moment about Macedonia, he would have bypassed many
spiritually hungry people in Troas. God will see to it that Paul goes to the right place at the right
time on his third missionary journey. These churches will respond positively to the gospel and
become the subject of Revelation Chapters 2 and 3, the seven churches of Asia.

Act 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit
suffered them not.

After they were come to (up to) Mysia, they assayed (attempted) to go into Bithynia: but the
Spirit suffered (eao: allowed, permitted), them not.

God wants Paul to go west toward Macedonia, so the Holy Spirit again stops him from going
south to Asia or North into Bithynia. He has other ministers planned for these places.

Because Bithynia is very prone to legalism, God has this nation prepared for the preaching of
Peter (1 Peter 1:1). First Peter was written to believers in Bithynia, and the subject is apostasy.
Legalism leads to apostasy. God wants Peter to write to them because he is also prone towards
legalism.
Since John understood love, God chose him to write to Asia. Paul would have been too rough,
and the people probably would not have received God’s message through him. Asia and the
people of Bithynia will more easily receive rebuke from Peter and John than from Paul.

We are all a team and have individual roles to play. God is preparing Peter to preach to
Bithynia and Asia Minor while preparing John to write letters to many of them. God does not
call one person or one church to win the whole world.

The Holy Spirit forbids Paul from going to Asia because the time is not right, but also because
Paul is not the one God had chosen to take the gospel to them. We also need to be sensitive to
the Holy Spirit, whether He speaks to us audibly, through an angel, a vision, a prophecy, with a
sense of urgency, through a gentle voice, a still voice, a sense of peace, or a “check” or warning.

Act 16:8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

After hearing the Holy Spirit say “no” to Bithynia, Paul and his team bypass Mysia. Apparently
the Spirit has told them to forget this city. Paul is now heading in the only direction he has
peace about. He does not return in the direction from which he came (east). He cannot go
north or south. The only option left is west until he comes to Troy on the Aegean Sea.

Troy is the famous city of the Homeric stories of the Iliad and the Odyssey. It is a center of
Greek culture and history. It is the place where Alexander began his world empire and fought
many battles. Here at Troas (Troy), Paul will add to the ministry team and take the gospel to
Macedonia. Along with Timothy, he will add Luke. He attempts to add Titus, but does not (2