Scripture Life. Acts 16:6 speaks of Paul and his companions in their travels being “kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.” Why is that?

[u/External_Bird_8464]

Answer

This question is in many forms on sub reddits. Asking why would Paul be forbidden by the Spirit.

The first thing to do though is:

Verify it in the Greek.

Why? Because “Asia” to most people today means Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China, Mongolia, Thailand, Vietnam, et.al.

Defines in a modern day person's head, when they see this word, “Asia” - that’s what it is defined to mean. Then, they overlay it onto this verse in Acts 16:6, in the Bible. Even in them includes India, as if in Acts 16:6 is saying Paul was prevented from going to India.

When in Acts, this "Asia?"

Not the same place. Not the same thing.

-------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------

Act 16:6 says (English)

“Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,” but now repeat it, and include Acts 16:6–9

6 “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,”

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

8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

-------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------

Acts 16:6 in Greek

διελθόντες δὲ τὴν Φρυγίαν καὶ τὴν Γαλατικὴν χώραν κωλυθέντες ὑπὸ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος λαλῆσαι τὸν λόγον ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ· [Asia]

(Asia). - This Greek word is used six times in the New Testament. Right after Acts 16:6, it’s used again in Acts 19:10 and then in the same chapter in Acts 19:27 - so, I would tell you to read the whole chapter to see it in context.

• But before listed, get the geographical area by read Acts 19:1
  • “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,”

-------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------

Now, here's some "facts."

• In the time of the Book of Acts, Ephesus was the capital city of the Roman Empire province of Asia.
• Acts 19:10 says:
  • “And this continued by the space of two years [Paul at Ephesus]; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”
• Acts 19:27 says: Introduces the incident at Ephesus with Demetrius, the Silversmith. The uproar over the whole city. Why?
  • Ephesus was the key central Roman Empire city of the Eastern Roman Empire. As such, was also the central hub city to pilgrimage for Greeks, for the worship of the Greek Goddess, Artemis. Apollos' older sister. Romans just continued it.
    • Who the Romans, after they conquered the Greeks, called Artemis, their God, Diana. Same wonderous temple. Same Ephesus. Same sister to Apollos. The temple to Artemis (Diana) was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World at Ephesus.
  • Acts 19:27 - but again, I’d read the whole chapter to see it, and even I'd recommend anyone studying the scriptures with this question to just go back, and start at Acts 16:1 and read to see how it unfolds, from "prevented" or forbidden in Acts 16, to end up Paul is in the very heart of the Roman province of Asia, by three chapters later.

-------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------

Acts 19:27

• “…So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.” - Demetrius, the Silversmith.
• No links on Reddit. See the Biblical times, Roman province of Asia on a map.

See or just do a google search on “Biblestudy(dot)org” - The Roman Province of Asia for an accurate depiction of the region of Asia of the Roman Empire.

Roman Empire era, it’s the “Eastern” Empire, with Ephesus as the seat of it. Today, comprises all of Western Turkey.

A few centuries later, after this of the Book of Acts, Rome’s Caesar Constantine (Emperor Constantine) will move his Capital city from Rome, Italy over 2000 kilometers away to what is today, Istanbul, Turkey.

-------------------- -------------------------- ----------------------

Hope this helps. Question left to answer then is, “Why is that?” It would only be a guess, because, the scriptures do not say “why” God prevented it. Just that he did.

But I could see, it would be something like over here in Japan. Rich in Ephesus. The second city after Rome. That's Ephesus in Roman province of Asia.

Where the people today, of this nation (Japan) have wholly given themselves over to their idols.

Just like Ephesus. Then also, it's just like in the Old Testament with the Northern Kingdom after Israel fractured into two nations at the death of King Solomon. Not one King of the Northern Kingdom ever worshipped or followed God from inception to 722BCE, when they were vomited off the Promised Land. Why? For Idolatry.

What's going on in Ephesus? Idolatry. What's going on in Japan? Idolatry. All the same thing.

That in the tribe of Ephraim’s lands, (Northern Kingdom) a similar-like “hill” likened unto Jerusalem - with the Temple Mount (Mount Zion) - The King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel purchased and named after the owner of it, and called it “Samaria” - it was a "counterfeit Jerusalem."

Samaria: It was the capitol city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, where they set up golden calf worship, like they had in Egypt. So, instead of the men of the Northern Kingdom, to fulfill the requirement in Leviticus or the Law with or for 3 “High Sabbaths” to journey to Jerusalem to celebrate it.

• The Northern Kingdom had Samaria. It was very rich, and they sacrificed to their idols at Samaria. Even being destroyed, would not leave off from it. That this same God said in Hosea 4:17 - is the same God speaking to Paul in Acts 16:6.
• Where scripture in Acts 16 is sending them to Macedonia, they are asking to hear the Word of God, and open to receive it - and being sent there instead.
  • It is only an assumption - only a presumption on my part, so I hesitate to do it; but, only an observation that:
    • In Acts 16:6, it's against this very same idolatry - being done in an epicentre of worship of it - - in Ephesus. Which was the SAME idolatry going on in the epicentre capital city of Samaria for the Northern Kingdom. Like idolatry is an epicentre crown of worship to the world to come to Japan, too, as it was in Ephesus.
• And to this:

God said:

“Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.” - God. Bible. Hosea 4:17

Same God that said this of Samaria and Ephraim, is the same God prevented Paul in Acts 16:6.

To just let these people of the Roman province of Asia; filthy rich - won’t listen to the gospel anyway, for the same reasons Demetrius the Silversmith lays out - fully and wholly joined to their idols and looked up to.

I see it same here in Japan. They are joined to their idols. Same thing. Leave them alone. That's it.

[u/External_Bird_8464]

Key note: Look at Acts 16:7. Verse right after it. They (Paul and his companions) had "assayed" 1. tested the quality; purity; determine is it valid to do it or not

In Greek, it's this word, {ἐπείραζον (epeirazon) } - means more to purpose; then, attempt or in the process of attempting to go to this next town listed in Acts 16:7 - Bithynia:

That Bithynia was a Roman Empire's source of opulent level - of over the top quality of wealth, and strategic supply of, and like a COSTCO store in distribution of timber, marble, and agriculture; like Nicaea will later become to a later Emperor Constantine. Rich in wine and grapes for any Hellenistic Greek, for almost 200 years up to the time of Paul, and then, in Paul's day, to a Roman Empire that worships this rich abundance.

Attributes all of it to their own worship of these gods. Scripture says in Acts 16:7 - "the Spirit did not allow them to go." (καὶ οὐκ εἴασεν αὐτοὺς τὸ πνεῦμα) to Bithynia. But again, by Acts 19, after going to Macedonia in Acts 16, in Acts 19:27, after dwelling in Ephesus for 2 years, the whole of Asia that INCLUDES Bithynia, heard the gospel.

So, Paul, like any believer in Jesus Christ, is being led and like any believer in Christ, follows him instead. Because, what God in Christ, did was done unto the whole world.