Luke the beloved physician wrote, “so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. 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, ...”, and in chapter sixteen and verse seven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul and Silas, “assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not” where we read:
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
The verse begins, “After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia:” Luke began with the words, “after they were come to Mysia” which means “after the time when Paul, Silas, Timothy and their companions arose, appeared and were established in Mysia whose name means land of beach trees and was a province of Asia Minor on the shore of the Aegean Sea, between Lydia and Popontis; it included the cities of Pergamos, Troas, and Assos”, “they assayed to go” or “Paul, Silas, Timothy and their companions attempted and endeavored to travel and journey” “into Bithynia” which means “to Bithynia whose name means a violent rushing and was a Roman province in Asia Minor, bounded by the Euxine Sea, the Propontis, Mysia, Phrygia, Galatia and Paphlagonia”. Luke shared how “Paul, Silas, Timothy and those who were with them” appeared in “Mysia” and wanted to travel to “Bithynia”.
The verse continues, “but the Spirit suffered them not.” Luke added the words, “but the Spirit” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the Holy Spirit who is the third person of the triune God who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son” “suffered them not” which means “did not allow or permit Paul, Silas, Timothy and their companions to do so”. Luke shared how the “Holy Spirit” would not allow “Paul” and his entourage to travel to “Bithynia”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we continue to see how the “Holy Spirit” of God was directing the travels of “Paul, Silas, Timothy and their companions”. Although Paul and those with him desired to journey to “Asia”, the “Spirit” would not allow them. They wanted to travel to “Bithynia”, but the “Spirit” would not allow them. In other words, the “Holy Spirit” of God was in control of their travels. God knew they lacked knowledge about something in these places, and when a person yields themselves to His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, He will “direct their steps” which sometimes includes the word “no”. In the times when God's “Spirit” says “no”, those who are wise will understand that God knows what they do not know, and they do best to walk in the “known, unknown” which means the reasons may not be known by His believers, but they are well known by God. This requires “faith and trust” in God and His knowledge of what is best according to His will for their lives.
Next time Luke shares how Paul and Silas, “came down to Troas”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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