Acts 16:6

Now when. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the reading, “but they went through,” rather than, “now when they had gone throughout.” The Greek construction of vs. 5, 6 implies a division in the narrative at this point. One episode is complete, another begins. This is relevant to the interpretation of the following verses.

Phrygia. An ill-defined area in western Asia Minor (see The Journeys of Paul). The name was used with an ethnological rather than a political significance, and did not at this period indicate a Roman province. The gospel message may already have been carried there by inhabitants of the area who were in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost. Phrygia possesses a special interest for Christians because it later included the churches of the Lycus Valley, Colossae and Laodicea. See Additional Note at end of chapter.

Galatia. That is, the land of the Gauls (Gr. Galatai). One great branch of the Gallic people had moved west into Europe, and occupied territory that came to be known as Gaul, which roughly corresponded to modern France. In the 3d century B.C. another branch of the same people had poured south over Greece and into Asia Minor, where they settled in the central section of the country and absorbed many of the Phrygian people. In turn, the Galatians were later conquered by the Romans, and in 25 B.C., during the days of Augustus Caesar, their territory became a Roman province (see Vol. V, p. 23). The inhabitants spoke a Celtic dialect similar to that used by the Gauls in Western Europe, and retained the quickness of emotion and tendency to sudden change that characterized the Celtic temperament. They readily adopted the Phrygian religion, with its orgiastic worship of the great earth goddess Cybele, in whose temples were found eunuch priests consecrated to her service (see on Gal. 5:12). The chief seat of this worship was the town of Pessinus.

In Gal. 4:13-15 (see comment there) Paul refers to his visit to Galatia, where he seems to have been detained by a serious illness, possibly some affliction of the eyes. Many commentators have understood Paul’s statement about a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7; cf. on Acts 9:18) as referring to an eye malady. Probably this led to a longer stay in this region than Paul at first intended. During this illness the Galatians had opportunity to show themselves singularly devoted to him. He declares that they would have “plucked out” their “own eyes,” if it had been possible to replace his own with them, and thus relieve his suffering. They thought it was their highest “blessedness” to have such a one as Paul among them. They received him “as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.” The memory of that reception made his sorrow all the more bitter, when he later found the Galatians led astray by Judaizing teachers, and he rebuked them for leaving their first love.

Were forbidden. Rather, “having been forbidden,” implying that the Spirit’s prohibition was given soon after the party left the Iconium district, and before they entered Phrygia. See Additional Note at end of chapter.

Holy Ghost. How the Spirit instructed Paul, whether by inner promptings, or by night visions, or by prophecies given through those who had received the gift (cf. ch. 21:4), Luke does not say (cf. on chs. 2:4; 8:29, 39; 13:2). But Paul did know, however he knew it, that God through the Spirit was forbidding him to enter Asia, and then Bithynia (ch. 16:7), and he did not go into either of these regions. For a time he was thus kept out of Asia, with its teeming cities such as Ephesus, Smyrna, and Sardis, which had large Jewish communities, and were great centers of idolatrous worship. Such cities must have made a strong appeal to Paul, but he was completely obedient to the Spirit’s commands. Thus the missionary party was led toward the northwestern coast, not knowing where their next labors would be.

In Asia. See on ch. 2:9; see Additional Note at end of chapter.