Lectionary Calendar
Friday, August 15th, 2025
the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Acts 16:6

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Asia;   Galatia;   Holy Spirit;   Paul;   Phrygia;   Thompson Chain Reference - Asia;   Galatia;   Holy Spirit;   Leadership;   Missions, World-Wide;   Phrygia;   Spirit;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Holy Spirit, the, Is God;   Holy Spirit, the Personality of;   Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Asia;   Colossians, Epistle to the;   Galatia;   Phrygia;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Acts, book of;   Antioch in pisidia;   Asia;   Colossae;   Galatia;   Guidance;   Holy spirit;   Iconium;   Mark;   Mission;   Mysia;   Paul;   Phrygia;   Trinity;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Word;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Holy Ghost;   Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Asia;   Galatia;   Galatians, Epistle to;   Holy Ghost;   Lycaonia;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Galatia;   Lycaonia;   Lydia;   Paul;   Philemon;   Phrygia;   Porter;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Asia;   Galatia;   Galatians, Letter to the;   Mission(s);   Mysia;   Phrygia;   Spirit;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Acts of the Apostles;   Antioch;   Chronology of the New Testament;   Ephesus;   Galatia;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Iconium,;   Lydia;   Phrygia;   Troas;   Vision;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Antioch ;   Asia ;   Colossae;   Galatia ;   Galatians Epistle to the;   God;   Holy Spirit;   Iconium ;   Inspiration and Revelation;   Macedonia ;   Minister, Ministration;   Miracles;   Missions;   Moses;   Mysia ;   Paul;   Phrygia ;   Possession;   Preaching (2);   Roads and Travel;   Roman Law in the Nt;   Will;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Asia ;   Galatia ;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit;   Phrygia ;   Word, the;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Galatia;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Acts of the apostles;   Asia;   Galatia;   Lycaonia;   Lystra;   Philippi;   Phrygia;   Smith Bible Dictionary - A'sia;   Phryg'ia;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Antioch of Pisidia;   Asia;   Galatia;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Iconium;   Phrygia;   Prophecy;   Region;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Asia;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
King James Version (1611)
Now when they had gone thorowout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
King James Version
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,
English Standard Version
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
New American Standard Bible
They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, after being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
New Century Version
Paul and those with him went through the areas of Phrygia and Galatia since the Holy Spirit did not let them preach the Good News in Asia.
Amplified Bible
Now they passed through the territory of Phrygia and Galatia, after being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor];
New American Standard Bible (1995)
They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
Legacy Standard Bible
And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
Berean Standard Bible
After the Holy Spirit prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
Contemporary English Version
Paul and his friends went through Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit would not let them preach in Asia.
Complete Jewish Bible
They traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, because they had been prevented by the Ruach HaKodesh from speaking the message in the province of Asia.
Darby Translation
And having passed through Phrygia and the Galatian country, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,
Easy-to-Read Version
Paul and those with him went through the areas of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit did not allow them to tell the Good News in the province of Asia.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden of the holy Ghost to preache the worde in Asia.
George Lamsa Translation
Then they traveled through the countries of Phryg''i-a and Ga-la''tia, and the Holy Spirit forbade them to speak the word of God in Asia Minor.
Good News Translation
They traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit did not let them preach the message in the province of Asia.
Lexham English Bible
And they traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia.
Literal Translation
And passing through the Phrygian and the Galatian country, being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the Word in Asia,
American Standard Version
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
Bible in Basic English
And after they had gone through the land of Phrygia and Galatia, the Holy Spirit did not let them take the word into Asia;
Hebrew Names Version
When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Ruach HaKodesh to speak the word in Asia.
International Standard Version
Then they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia.
Etheridge Translation
But they went through the countries of Phrygia and Galatia; and the Spirit of Holiness forbad them, that they should not preach the word of Aloha in Asia.
Murdock Translation
And they travelled through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia; and the Holy Spirit forbid them to speak the word of God in Asia.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nowe when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the holy ghost to preache the worde in Asia,
English Revised Version
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia;
World English Bible
When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And having gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, being forbid by the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Weymouth's New Testament
Then Paul and his companions passed through Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Message in the province of Asia.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei passiden Frigie, and the cuntre of Galathi, and weren forbedun of the Hooli Goost to speke the word of God in Asie.
Update Bible Version
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
Webster's Bible Translation
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia;
New English Translation
They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in the province of Asia.
New King James Version
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
New Life Bible
They went through the countries of Phrygia and Galatia. The Holy Spirit kept them from preaching the Word of God in the countries of Asia.
New Revised Standard
They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian country, being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they had passed through Phrygia and the country of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.
Revised Standard Version
And they went through the region of Phry'gia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
When they had goone thorow out Phrigia and the region of Galacia and were forbydde of the holy gost to preach the worde in Asia
Young's Literal Translation
and having gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But as they wente thorow Phrygia and the londe of Galacia, they were forbydden of the holy goost, to preache the worde in Asia.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but after they had travers'd Phrygia and Galatia, they were order'd by the holy spirit not to preach the gospel in Asia:
THE MESSAGE
They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Then Paul and his little crew worked through all the countryside of Phrygia and Galatia. They would have kept going, but the Holy Spirit kept them from heading into Asia.

Contextual Overview

6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. 9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. 11 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. "If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." And she urged us until we agreed.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Phrygia: Acts 2:10, Acts 18:23

region: Acts 18:23, 1 Corinthians 16:1, Galatians 1:2, Galatians 3:1, 2 Timothy 4:10, 1 Peter 1:1

forbidden: Acts 16:7, Acts 10:19, Acts 11:12, Acts 13:2-4, Acts 20:28, 2 Chronicles 6:7-9, Isaiah 30:21, Amos 8:11, Amos 8:12, 1 Corinthians 12:11, Hebrews 11:8

Asia: Acts 19:10, Acts 19:26, Acts 19:27, Acts 20:4, Acts 20:16, 2 Corinthians 1:8, 2 Timothy 1:15, 1 Peter 1:1, Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:11

Reciprocal: Mark 2:2 - and he John 14:26 - Holy Ghost Acts 2:9 - Asia Acts 6:9 - Asia Acts 8:29 - General Acts 16:13 - and we Acts 19:21 - purposed Acts 19:31 - the chief Acts 21:11 - Thus Romans 1:13 - but Romans 15:19 - so that Galatians 4:11 - lest Galatians 4:13 - at

Cross-References

Genesis 16:8
The angel said to her, "Hagar, Sarai's servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?" "I'm running away from my mistress, Sarai," she replied.
Genesis 16:9
The angel of the Lord said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority."
Genesis 24:10
Then he loaded ten of Abraham's camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. There he went to the town where Abraham's brother Nahor had settled.
Exodus 2:15
And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well.
Job 2:6
"All right, do with him as you please," the Lord said to Satan. "But spare his life."
Proverbs 14:29
People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.
Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
Proverbs 27:8
A person who strays from home is like a bird that strays from its nest.
Proverbs 29:19
Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.
Ecclesiastes 10:4
If your boss is angry at you, don't quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia,....

:- To which may be added, that this country had its name either from the river Phryx, as Pliny w observes, or from the word Phrygios, which signifies "dry"; this being a very dry and sandy country: it was famous for marble stone; hence we read x of Phrygian Stone or marble, of which pillars and statues were made: according to Josephus y, the original of the Phrygians was Togarmah the son of Gomer, and grandson of Japheth, Genesis 10:3, whom he calls Thygrammes, and his people from him, Thygrammeans, and who, adds he, as it seems by the Greeks, are called Phrygians. Herodotus z reports, that the Phrygians (as the Macedonians say) were called Briges or Brygians, so long as they were Europeans, and dwelt with the Macedonians: but when they went into Asia, together with the country, they changed their names, into Phrygians: of one Philip a Phrygian, whom Antiochus left governor at Jerusalem, mention is made in:

"And he left governors to vex the nation: at Jerusalem, Philip, for his country a Phrygian, and for manners more barbarous than he that set him there;'' (2 Maccabees 5:22)

here dwelt Jews, as appears from Acts 2:10 and here the apostle preached and made converts.

And the region of Galatia: in Asia Minor: it had Cappadocia on the east, Bithynia on the west, Pamphylia on the south, and the Euxine sea on the north. The inhabitants of this country were originally Gauls, who under Brennus their captain, came out of some parts of France, and invaded Italy, and came to Rome, and took it all but the capitol; from whence being sallied out upon by the Romans at an unawares, they were obliged to retire; and from thence they sailed into Greece, and went into Asia, into this part of it where they settled, which was first called after them Gallo Graecia, and in process of time Galatia; though some say the Grecians called them Galatians from Gala, which signifies "milk", because of their milky colour: of the Galatians, mention is made in,

"And he told them of the battle that they had in Babylon with the Galatians, how they came but eight thousand in all to the business, with four thousand Macedonians, and that the Macedonians being perplexed, the eight thousand destroyed an hundred and twenty thousand because of the help that they had from heaven, and so received a great booty.'' (2 Maccabees 8:20)

here the Gospel was preached, and many believed; for we afterwards read of disciples both in this country and in Phrygia, Acts 18:23 and here were churches formed, and to whom the apostles preached, and delivered the decrees of the apostles and elders.

And were forbidden of the Holy Ghost; not by an articulate voice, but by a secret and powerful impulse upon their minds;

to preach the word in Asia: that is, in that country which was properly called Asia, or pro-consular Asia, otherwise Phrygia, and Galatia, were provinces in Asia Minor. Beza's most ancient copy, and the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions read, "the word of God": the reasons why it was prohibited to be preached here, at this time, cannot be said, and must be referred to the sovereign will of God; it seems, that at this instant, there were no chosen ones to be called by grace, and there was work for the apostle and his companions to do elsewhere, namely, in Macedonia.

w Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 29. x Pausanias, l. 1. sive Attica, p. 32. y Antiqu. l. 1. c. 6. sect. 1. z Polymnia, c. 73. Vid. Plin. l. 5. c. 32.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Throughout Phrygia - This was the largest province of Asia Minor. It had Bithynia north; Pisidia and Lycia south; Galatia and Cappadocia east; and Lydia and Mysia west.

And the region of Galatia - This province was directly east of Phrygia. The region was formerly conquered by the Gauls. They settled in it, and called it, after their own name, Galatia. The Gauls invaded the country at different times, and no less than three tribes or bodies of Gauls had possession of it. Many Jews were also settled there. It was from this cause that so many parties could be formed there, and that so much controversy would arise between the Jewish and Gentile converts. See the Epistle to the Galatians.

And were forbidden - Probably by a direct revelation. The reason of this was, doubtless, that it was the intention of God to extend the gospel further into the regions of Greece than would have been done if they had remained in Asia Minor. This prohibition was the means of the first introduction of the gospel into Europe.

In Asia - See the notes on Acts 2:9. This was doubtless the region of proconsular Asia. It was also called Ionia. Of this region Ephesus was the capital; and here were situated also the cities of Smyrna, Thyatira, Philadelphia, etc., within which the seven churches mentioned in Rev. 1–3 were established. Cicero speaks of proconsular Asia as containing the provinces of Phrygia, Mysia, Carla, and Lydia. In all this region the gospel was afterward preached with great success. But now a more important and a wider field was opened before Paul and Barnabas in the extensive country of Macedonia.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 16:6. Were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. — The Asia mentioned here could not be Asia Minor in general, for Galatia, Phrygia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, and Pamphylia, were provinces of it, and in these the apostles preached; but it was what was called Proconsular Asia, which included only Ionia, AEolia, and Lydia. The apostles were not suffered to visit these places at this time; but they afterwards went thither, and preached the Gospel with success; for it was in this Proconsular Asia that the seven Churches were situated. God chose to send his servants to another place, where he saw that the word would be affectionately received; and probably those in Proconsular Asia were not, as yet, sufficiently prepared to receive and profit by it.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile