Acts 16:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

There a vision appeared to Sha’ul at night. A man from Macedonia was standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”

Berean Standard Bible:

During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

American Standard Version:

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G2532} a vision^{G3705} appeared^{G3700} to Paul^{G3972} in^{G1223} the night^{G3571}; There stood^{{G2258}{G2476}} a man^{{G5100}{G435}} of Macedonia^{G3110}, and prayed^{G3870} him^{G846},^{G2532} saying^{G3004}, Come over^{G1224} into^{G1519} Macedonia^{G3109}, and help^{G997} us^{G2254}.

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Commentary for Acts 16:9

Acts 16:9 is a pivotal verse in the New Testament as it marks a significant turning point in the missionary journey of the Apostle Paul. The verse is set within the historical context of the early Christian church's expansion beyond Asia Minor into Europe. In this vision, Paul is called by a Macedonian man, an appeal that serves as a divine directive for Paul and his companions to cross over from Asia to Europe, specifically to Macedonia, which is part of modern-day Greece.

The themes present in this verse include divine guidance, missionary outreach, and the obedience of Paul to the will of God. The vision underscores the idea that the spread of the Christian message was not solely the result of human planning but was also guided by divine intervention. It reflects the early church's understanding that their mission to preach the Gospel was ordained by God and that they were to follow His lead, even when it meant venturing into unknown territories.

This verse also highlights the theme of hospitality and the reciprocal nature of Christian community, as the Macedonian's plea for help suggests an eagerness to receive the Gospel message. Paul's response to this vision led to the establishment of some of the earliest Christian communities in Europe, including those in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth, which would play crucial roles in the spread of Christianity.

In summary, Acts 16:9 encapsulates the transformative moment when the Apostle Paul, guided by a vision, was called to extend his missionary work into Europe, thereby initiating a new chapter in the history of early Christianity. This event illustrates the themes of divine guidance in the church's mission, the obedience of apostolic figures like Paul, and the eagerness of new peoples to receive the Christian message.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: G3705
   There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὅραμα
   Transliteration: hórama
   Pronunciation: hor'-am-ah
   Description: from ὁράω; something gazed at, i.e. a spectacle (especially supernatural):--sight, vision.
   
3. Strong's Number: G3700
   There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὀπτάνομαι
   Transliteration: optánomai
   Pronunciation: op'-tom-ahee
   Description: a (middle voice) prolonged form of the primary (middle voice) ; which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternate of ὁράω; to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from βλέπω, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from εἴδω, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision; while θεάομαι, and still more emphatically its intensive θεωρέω, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and σκοπέω a watching from a distance):--appear, look, see, shew self.
   
4. Strong's Number: G3972
   There are 160 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Παῦλος
   Transliteration: Paûlos
   Pronunciation: pow'-los
   Description: of Latin origin; (little; but remotely from a derivative of παύω, meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle:--Paul, Paulus.
   
5. Strong's Number: G1223
   There are 580 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: διά
   Transliteration: diá
   Pronunciation: dee-ah'
   Description: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
   
6. Strong's Number: G3571
   There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: νύξ
   Transliteration: nýx
   Pronunciation: noox
   Description: a primary word; "night" (literally or figuratively):-- (mid-)night.
   
7. Strong's Number: G2258
   There are 416 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἦν
   Transliteration: ēn
   Pronunciation: ane
   Description: imperfect of εἰμί; I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were):--+ agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.
   
8. Strong's Number: G2476
   There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἵστημι
   Transliteration: hístēmi
   Pronunciation: stah'-o
   Description: a prolonged form of a primary (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively):--abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Compare τίθημι.
   
9. Strong's Number: G5100
   There are 419 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τὶς
   Transliteration: tìs
   Pronunciation: tis
   Description: an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:--a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).
   
10. Strong's Number: G435
    There are 279 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀνήρ
    Transliteration: anḗr
    Pronunciation: an'-ayr
    Description: a primary word (compare ἄνθρωπος); a man (properly as an individual male):--fellow, husband, man, sir.
    
11. Strong's Number: G3110
    There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Μακεδών
    Transliteration: Makedṓn
    Pronunciation: mak-ed'-ohn
    Description: of uncertain derivation; a Macedon (Macedonian), i.e. inhabitant of Macedonia:--of Macedonia, Macedonian.
    
12. Strong's Number: G3870
    There are 104 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: παρακαλέω
    Transliteration: parakaléō
    Pronunciation: par-ak-al-eh'-o
    Description: from παρά and καλέω; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):--beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.
    
13. Strong's Number: G846
    There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: αὐτός
    Transliteration: autós
    Pronunciation: ow-tos'
    Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
    
14. Strong's Number: G3004
    There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: λέγω
    Transliteration: légō
    Pronunciation: leg'-o
    Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.
    
15. Strong's Number: G1224
    There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: διαβαίνω
    Transliteration: diabaínō
    Pronunciation: dee-ab-ah'-ee-no
    Description: from διά and the base of βάσις; to cross:--come over, pass (through).
    
16. Strong's Number: G1519
    There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εἰς
    Transliteration: eis
    Pronunciation: ice
    Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
    
17. Strong's Number: G3109
    There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Μακεδονία
    Transliteration: Makedonía
    Pronunciation: mak-ed-on-ee'-ah
    Description: from Μακεδών; Macedonia, a region of Greece:--Macedonia.
    
18. Strong's Number: G997
    There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: βοηθέω
    Transliteration: boēthéō
    Pronunciation: bo-ay-theh'-o
    Description: from βοηθός; to aid or relieve:--help, succor.
    
19. Strong's Number: G2254
    There are 167 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἡμῖν
    Transliteration: hēmîn
    Pronunciation: hay-meen'
    Description: dative case plural of ἐγώ; to (or for, with, by) us:--our, (for) us, we.