COME OVER INTO MACEDONIA, AND HELP US

The gospel enters Europe and what is emphasised is the divine direction and guidance. Note the phrases, ‘forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia’, v. 6 JND; ‘the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them’ to enter Bithynia, v. 7 JND; ‘God had called us to preach’ in Macedonia, v. 10 RV. Note here, too, the involvement of the Trinity - ‘the Holy Spirit’, v. 6, ‘the Spirit of Jesus’, v. 7 RV, and ‘God’, v. 10. Why was Paul not permitted to go to Asia? It was not yet the Lord’s time. There is a specific time for God’s work to be done, and it was not yet time to enter into Asia. Later Paul went to Ephesus, which was the capital of the province of Asia, and many were converted. But it was not yet the Lord’s time. If we only learn to wait and trust in Him, He will direct our steps, Prov. 3. 5-6. It is wise for His servants, as they seek spheres of service, not to push doors, but to pray Him to open the right one. Again, they were forbidden to enter in Bithynia. Bithynia would hear the word at another time and by another servant, 1 Pet. 1. 1. The Holy Spirit has His own times and ways of giving the gospel to these provinces. So they went on to Troas, v. 8. It is better to go to Troas with God than anywhere else without Him. God again gave them clear, definite guidance by the vision of the Macedonian. Paul must have consulted with his fellow workers for they concluded that the Lord had called them. They ‘assuredly gathered’, or ‘lay things together’, in making sure that this was God’s purpose for them. It was not wasted time to do so, and then followed immediate obedience. Note that there was an extra missionary now, so the ‘we’ and ‘us’ of verses 10 and 11 tell us that Luke had joined them. He does not mention his name at all, but keeps himself completely in the background. We can profit by this beautiful example of humility. Paul calls him ‘the beloved physician’, Col. 4. 14. Now the Spirit helped them in every way. They had ‘a straight course’, v. 11. It took two days for the wind was with them. Against a contrary way, some time later, the journey took five days, 20. 6. Sometimes, in the Lord’s business, the wind is with us, sometimes against us. Whichever it is, He will bring us to our desired haven.