From Pisidian Antioch in the region of Phrygia and Galatia Paul evidently intends to make his way straight west into the Roman province of Asia on the Via Sebaste, 150 miles to Colosse and then 150 more to Ephesus. We are not told how, but the Holy Spirit clearly prevents them from taking that route so that they could preach the word in Asia. This occurs probably before they set off or early in their passage, for they evidently turn northward almost immediately.

They come to Dorylaeum, or more probably Cotiaeum, at the border of Mysia (the latitude of Mysia), the northern portion of the province of Asia, and sought to head northeast into the province of Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. Again there is no indication of the means he uses. Paul evidently takes this negative guidance to mean that he must push the mission farther west, across the Aegean to Greece. He heads for Troas, the port of embarkation for Macedonia, even though there is no direct route to it from where he begins (compare Bowers 1979; Haenchen 1971:487 disagrees).

Troas, more properly Alexandria Troas, was an important seaport for travel from the northwestern part of the Roman province of Asia to Macedonia and the west. Ten miles south of the ancient site of Troy, the now deserted site has ruins of an aqueduct, a theater and city walls six miles in circumference, giving mute testimony to its prosperity and magnitude. There during the night Paul receives positive guidance. In a vision (compare 9:12; 18:9; 22:17; 26:16) he sees and hears a man of Macedonia . . . begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." This "begging" is a strong appeal (compare 13:42).

Now that Paul has received extraordinary and circumstantial guidance, his team corporately reasons, putting together (symbibazo) the positive and negative guidance, to the conclusion that God has called them to evangelize the Macedonians (compare 13:2). And they act immediately, getting ready (literally "seeking") to leave for Macedonia.

How does God guide his church to the right place for mission? There will be "closed" as well as "open doors." There will be guidance addressed to individuals as well as to the entire team. There will be guidance via circumstances, sometimes extraordinary, as well as through the use of reason in evaluating circumstances in the light of God's Word. And specific guidance will come only to those who are already on the road, living out their general obedience to the Great Commission. Being able to say, "God sent me; I come with the wind at my back," is a strong witness to one's hearers that one's message is from God and true.