Asia (Off limits?)

[grotto]

Reading thru the ACTS of the Apostles I came to ACTS 16, Paul in Macedonia,
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by
the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them;
8 so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to
Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing beseeching him and saying,
“Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when he had seen the vision,
immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, condluding that God had called
us to preach the gospel to them.

Why or what would be the meaning of this?:coffeeread:

 

[Mintaka]

Prioritization. There were other people who were going to evangelize Asia Minor, Persia, et cetera. The Holy Spirit told Paul where to go and not go, based on where he personally would best fit God’s plan.

 

[grotto]

Thanks for your response. I kind of figured that but at the same time I wondered about the “forbid” part but I know what God says He means!

 

[Evan]

From ‘Church History’ by Eusebius (4th Century) has this:

Meanwhile the holy apostles and disciples of our Saviour were dispersed throughout the world. Parthia, according to tradition, was allotted to Thomas as his field of labor, Scythia to Andrew, and Asia to John, who, after he had lived some time there, died at Ephesus.

Peter appears to have preached in Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, and Asia to the Jews of the dispersion. And at last, having come to Rome, he was crucified head-downwards; for he had requested that he might suffer in this way. What do we need to say concerning Paul, who preached the Gospel of Christ from Jerusalem to Illyricum, and afterwards suffered martyrdom in Rome under Nero? These facts are related by Origen in the third volume of his Commentary on Genesis.

So, it looks like asia was well preached.

 

[grotto]

Wouldn’t it be great to say “no worries” because we all held the Good News and lived it! (Lord please help me to follow Your Word always!) P.S Thats a great resource book you have! I like to imagine all the traveling they did and how it was then.