THE MACEDONIAN CALL

Acts 16:9-10 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 endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Beginning with verse 6, we find the apostle Paul, accompanied by Silas and Timothy, departing from the city of Lystra and continuing their journey through Asia Minor preaching and establishing Christian faith in churches of Christ that were planted during his first missionary journey. As they journeyed they passed through the province of Phrygia and the region of Galatia. Here we learn that Paul, and his fellow preachers, desired to bring the gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus unto the people of Asia, but were forbidden to do so by the Holy Ghost. Certainly this does not refer to Asia Minor because they were presently teaching and confirming God's word in the cities located this region. The Roman controlled region, referred to as Asia, lies west of Antioch of Pisidia and south of Troas, the capitol of which was Ephesus. With this occurring, we are given assurance that God was in complete control of when and where His plan of salvation was to be spread throughout the world. It is evident that God intended His word to be preached in other parts of the known world before it was to be preached in Asia.

No doubt, Paul was directed by God's Holy Spirit to travel into, and continue his gospel mission, in the Asia Minor province of Mysia. While there, they assayed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not. Although this region was near unto Mysia, the time was not right in the sight of God for them to do so. Rather, they were directed to journey on to the city of Troas, an Aegean seacoast city located in northwest Asia Minor, and well known as a departure site when sailing to Macedonia (Greece). While here at Troas, a vision appeared to Paul in the night. Assuredly, this vision was a revelation from God. Just as Peter, while at Joppa, was given directions by God in new fields of endeavor to spread His Holy Word, so was Paul at this particular time in biblical history.

In the miraculous vision that appeared to Paul, he saw a man of Macedonia speaking to him and praying the he would come over into Macedonia, and help us (the people of this province). Here we have demonstrated the spiritual needs of the world - the recognition of a righteous God that offers eternal life to those that seek Him, find Him, and obey His will. Paul, having seen this vision, and realizing this to be the will of God, Luke records that immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia ...to preach the gospel unto them.

For the first time in his inspired writing the use of the pronoun "we" indicates that Luke, himself, had joined with Paul, Silas, and Timothy from this point on in the second missionary journey of the apostle Paul as he is led to preach the gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus to the world. Here we have the hand of God directing the preaching of His plan of salvation when and where He, in His divine providence, saw fit to do so. It is evident that the time had not come to preach His Word in Asia (Vs. 6). Neither was the time right to carry His Word into the province of Bithynia (Vs. 7). But it was God's will to bring salvation to the people of Macedonia, and all the cities of this Grecian territory of the Roman Empire, and the time to do so was immediately!

Just as it was then, so the Macedonian call goes out to all followers of Christ today. To use the words of our Lord, Jesus Christ, as he directed His disciples, behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest (John 4:35). The world around us is filled with people having open and receptive hearts that are truly seeking for the hope of eternal salvation. Just as those of Macedonia needed help in finding their way of salvation, so it is today. The world needs preachers and teachers to bring Jesus Christ into their lives and give them the opportunity of receiving all the spiritual blessings God makes available to His children. Paul, in his letter to the Christians of Rome made this plain when he wrote: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed, and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher, and how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things (Rom. 10:13-15)!