Acts 16:4-7 - So the churches were strengthened

16:4,5

Part of the purpose of their journey was to transmit the decision reached in Jerusalem regarding the requirements on Gentile believers, namely that they were not required to follow the Law. The result was that the “churches were strengthened in the faith” and “grew daily in numbers”. Sadly, it is highly unlikely that the decisions made by the CofE and CofS, and others, will result in churches being strengthened or growing in numbers.

16:6,7

A feature of Acts is the work of the Holy Spirit, not just in the miracles, but in leading the church. So far this has all been positive, but here we see two examples of the Spirit stopping them from going to two places. First, the Holy Spirit stopped them from “preaching the word in the province of Asia”. Then the “Spirit of Jesus” would not allow them to enter Bithynia. The Spirit of Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one and the same. We are not given any reason here why He stopped them. However, given what comes up in the next few verses, it is likely that this would have distracted them from the work in Macedonia that He had for them. God had different plans. Sometimes the question “why are you not allowing me to do this” has the answer “because I have something different/better for you to do”.