Acts 16:9,10 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

And While they were in this place, undetermined, probably, to what coast of Europe they should sail, if, according to their intention, they crossed the sea; a vision appeared to Paul in the night To direct them: it was not a dream, though it was by night. No dream is mentioned in the New Testament, except that of Joseph, and of Pilate's wife. There stood a man of Macedonia Before him, probably an angel, clothed in the Macedonian habit, or using the language of that country, and representing the inhabitants of it; and prayed him With great earnestness; saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us Against Satan, ignorance, and sin. And after he had seen the vision And given an account of it to his companions; immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia Willingly obeying the heavenly admonition; assuredly gathering From this vision; that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel unto them In that country. This is the first place in which Luke intimates his attendance on the apostle. And here he does it only in an oblique manner. Nor does he throughout the history once mention his own name, or any one thing which he did or said for the service of Christianity; though Paul speaks of him in the most honourable terms, Col 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; and probably, as the brother whose praise in the gospel went through all the churches, 2 Corinthians 8:18. The same remark may be made on the rest of the sacred historians, who every one of them show the like amiable modesty.

Acts 16:9-10

9 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.

10 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.