Paul and his company are on the second of his several missionary tours, journeys … preaching God’s Word. He had originally intended to revisit the Churches established during his first evangelistic trip, Acts 15:36 … “Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.”

But God miraculously intervened, forbidding them to travel further eastward! Acts 16:6-7 … “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. After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit SUFFERED THEM NOT.”

Wow!

(That dramatic and divine “change of direction” Order came in the form of a dream, a vision! Still to this day called the “Macedonian Vision.”)

Concerning which our Text today plays a key role. “And THEY passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately WE endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” Acts 16:8-10

Watch those pronouns, please.

Scripture here changes from the third person (“they”) to the first person (“we”), indicating that LUKE (the author of Acts, under Holy Spirit inspiration) has now joined the team. He is personally accompanying Paul and Silas and Timothy!

Hereafter we have eye-witness testimony!

And Luke apparently stays with Paul for much of his remaining ministry! Both Colossians 4:14 and 2 Timothy 4:11 mention him as being with Paul in the later years of the great Apostle’s life.

Luke builds his Record (the Book of Acts) on meticulous research and many interviews with first hand sources … likely talking with Mary herself as he built his “Virgin Birth” narratives … BUT THEN (IN TODAY’S BIBLE TEXT) HE PERSONALLY JOINS THE PREACHERS, THE CHARACTERS IN HIS HISTORICAL STORY, AND TRAVELS WITH THEM SIDE BY SIDE!

Oh, the importance of the little pronouns in the Bible’s great Narratives!

“THEY” became “WE” … in a short two verse span! Then it’s like we are there too! Via an “I saw it” account!

Acts 16:8-10 … look at it again. “And THEY passing by Mysia came down to Troas.” Then … “Immediately WE endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”

The Bible, what a precise Book!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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