Acts 16:7 (GNV)

Passage

Then came they to Mysia, and sought to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Nearby Context

Acts 16:5 And so were the Churches stablished in the faith, and encreased in number daily.

Acts 16:6 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.

Acts 16:7 Then came they to Mysia, and sought to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Acts 16:8 Therefore they passed through Mysia, and came downe to Troas,

Acts 16:9 Where a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stoode a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come into Macedonia, and helpe vs.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "came", "mysia", "sought", "bithynia", and "suffered". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "came", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "Nowe when they had gone throughout Phrygia..." into verse 8's "Therefore they passed through Mysia and came...", so "Spirit" and "came" belong inside that flow. In Acts context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "Spirit" and "came" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.