Direction and Reassurance

The Macedonian Call
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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 endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.—Acts 16:9,10

Todd Alexander

This event was the third of six visions the apostle Paul received from the risen Lord Jesus. Like the others, this one came at just the right time. A vision provided both a directive for the work to be done and reassurance of Jesus’ protective guidance. Paul needed both. From the first letter he wrote to the church at Corinth we are given insight into the tremendous physical burden and psychological weight of the gospel he felt during his missionary journeys: “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God … comforteth those that are cast down” (2 Corinthians 7:5,6).

He almost brushes off his burdens and pains because of the comfort God provided. Thus we see the counteracting force of inspiration that Paul used to fuel his great boldness in the furtherance of the gospel, even if it was in the face of danger. Paul’s ability to hold two opposing ideas in his mind and force his intellect to produce an experience or a teaching that was meaningful to him or his companions was a richly rewarded gift of his ministry. These included fear vs. boldness, persecution vs. blessing, circumcision vs. uncircumcision, faith vs. works, the Law vs. the Gospel, and Jews vs. Gentiles. His mastery of logic was without equal and he could expound his rational faith powerfully, as seen when he witnessed to King Agrippa and Festus. But what was about to happen could be explained only by invoking faith.

Paul had just started his second missionary journey, this time with Silas, a new partner who was someone the brethren appreciated. His dispute with Barnabas regarding John Mark was surely a lingering memory, but now his mind was full of the decisions needed for the task at hand. Where was he to go? How would he find those who would be helpful to the ministry? How would he recognize the tools the Lord would provide along the way?

With great boldness and determination, Paul stepped forward to go where he thought he should and do what he thought was right. He had both the readiness to do God’s will and the determination to perform it in the best way he could. He would later teach this proactive faith to the Corinthians as something he had relied upon during this moment, guiding him through all of his uncertainties: “Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:11,12, NIV).

The vision of the Macedonian call was proof that Jesus was directing his efforts to be a “chosen vessel.” But the vision accomplished considerably more than the scope of this second missionary journey. The vision of the Macedonian call was a continued mark of the authority of his apostleship and provided him, along with his associates, much needed context for their important ministries: “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds” (2 Corinthians 12:12).

The vision of the Macedonian call brought closure to many loose ends that Paul could have been wrestling with. Did he do the right thing when he refused the service of John Mark and thus impacted his close ties with Barnabas? Was this second journey his idea or was it directed by Jesus? Was this the right way to spread the gospel? Should he go to Asia and Bithynia and introduce the gospel there? Were the indications that he took as impediments from the holy spirit really from the holy spirit, or was he influenced by his own preferences? The Lord resolved all these questions with the vision of the Macedonian call. But the fact that Paul had these questions was a demonstration of his humility, unmovable faith, and resolve to do the right thing in the face of unknown dangers.

A Vision or a Dream

This experience happened at night, perhaps when Paul was sleeping. The Greek word horama indicates that it was something to be gazed at and most likely was supernatural. It was indeed a vision, though it may also have been a dream as well. The value of it is not in the experience itself but in observing what Paul did immediately afterward: “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” (Acts 16:10).

Paul demonstrated great urgency of action after seeing the vision and he was rewarded with the corresponding blessing of Luke joining them. This is implied by the use of “we,” the initial instance of this word in the telling of the narrative. The group’s focus was now on Macedonia and the phrase “assuredly gathering” leaves no doubt about what conclusions were drawn from the experience. The vision was specific direction from Jesus that redirected Paul’s missionary journey and set him on a course for a new land.

The lesson taught by Paul to Silas and Luke, and to us, is to follow our conscience without delay. Paul would reiterate this principle later in his ministry when he taught that when there is no sin involved, it becomes a sin to violate either our conscience or that of our brother (see 1 Corinthians 8:7-13). Paul’s conscience was an important element of this experience. His stand for the principles of righteousness interacted with the leadings of the holy spirit to indicate the path he should take. In the immediacy of his action we see his resolve to follow his conscience without delay. “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

Perhaps Barnabas should have yielded to Paul’s conscience in the matter of John Mark. As an apostle Paul would have had the greater authority. That conflict probably seemed to Paul as something that occurred a long time before, because now they were on their way to Macedonia with anticipated new experiences.

Another lesson learned from Paul’s reaction to the Macedonian call is that he had a “ready mind” and was easily redirected by the Lord. Whether God opened a door or shut one, Paul was ready to follow whatever direction he received. If Jesus had initiated Paul’s missionary journey, he certainly would be present in the execution of the details as well. This principle was taught by Peter and exemplified by Paul throughout his ministry: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (1 Peter 5:2).

Having a ready mind is a pre-disposition to being cheerful, willing, and eager to follow the direction of the Lord. Seeing how Paul put his faith in action teaches us lessons we should use to harness our own faith and courage in the face of uncertainties.

Asia

The “Asia” in this account is probably modern-day Turkey rather than much further east in the direction of China. But such a conclusion does present problems. Paul and Silas were already deep inside Turkey and had already traveled throughout Phrygia and Galatia. Why would the holy spirit prevent them from going somewhere they had already been? To this point their journey had formed an arc and their next logical direction would be points east and uncharted territory. When the holy spirit forbad them to go, they tried going northward into Bithynia, but the holy spirit redirected them west. The Macedonian call occurred in Troas, along the northwest coast of Turkey.

Regardless which territory was denoted by “Asia,” Paul knew he was to preach the gospel to the civilized areas within the Roman Empire. Once outside the Roman Empire, the culture of the nation-states would be unpredictable and decidedly unfriendly to a Roman citizen preaching a religious message. During this time China was a feudal system dominated by strong men who continuously battled one another. The four-thousand-mile Great Wall of China was already 750 years old when Paul made his second missionary journey. That wall stood as a physical artifact of a fractured and violent culture.

Why Macedonia?

The gospel needed a culture which had prepared the people with the necessary reasoning faculties to receive it. The Greco-Roman rule of government, which provided the building blocks of democracy and the resulting intellectual culture, was the preferred environment for preaching the gospel. The Roman Empire, with its freedoms for Roman citizens, was where the fledgling church took hold and spread by the workings of the holy spirit. Likewise, the United States of America, which inculcated much of the principles of a Republic and Democracy, would be the hotbed of the gospel at the end of the Gospel age during the seventh stage of the church. The gospel would go to points east later in the Gospel age, long after Paul passed from the scene.

Every move, every event in Paul’s life, took him one step closer to completing his goal to bear Jesus’ name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel (see Acts 9:15). Why would he have to go to Macedonia to meet Lydia from the city of Thyatira? Because the Lord wanted to call her, and then later a jailer as part of the plan to introduce the gospel to Macedonia (Acts 16:26-34). One of the most important blessings the called ones receive is when God sends them a faithful gospel preacher: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isaiah 52:7).

Lydia may have provided another important element in the ministry of Paul, beyond her faith in the gospel. Her close relationship with Paul’s ministry would have provided him a much-needed favorable character witness in the Roman courts. Her reputation would have preceded her in the halls of aristocracy because of her trade in purple, a hallmark of Roman aristocracy. She could also have provided factual details about his whereabouts to prove his innocence against a charge of fomenting rebellion.

The miracles of Paul’s second missionary journey went far beyond the vision of the Macedonian call. But these miracles only came after his initial repentance years earlier and his continued obedience to that original heavenly vision. The Scriptures came to life for him after his conversion. He found that if he truly sought the will of God and waited upon him, he would be guided by the Lord. As the psalmist wrote, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:8).

Beyond the vision of the Macedonian call, God would make his will known to Paul through his word, the impulses of the holy spirit, and the indications of his providences. Paul had great confidence in the power of his resurrected Lord and in Jehovah to fulfill the promises that were once only faint flickers of hope in his fading world of compliance to the Jewish Law.

Miraculous communications from Jesus to special individuals stopped after the death of the apostles. But we do see supernatural involvement in the lives of those called to be footstep followers of Jesus in equally powerful ways. The united testimony of the apostles and our brethren throughout the Gospel age is sure: When it is the Lord’s time to get a message to a new part of the world, he can do it in miraculous and powerful ways.

One of the great enigmas of this age is why it has taken so long for the gospel to reach China, and particularly the hope embodied within the Harvest Message. Since we still have opportunities, by faith we should continue to spread the gospel message and let it shine in dark places. But we will only be successful if we repent from our sins, follow the principles of righteousness, stay under the protective guidance of Jesus, and follow his word and the leadings of the holy spirit. Paul realized he was only a vessel for the spreading of the gospel and the development of the church. He was sensitive to all of the leadings of the Lord and, because of his faithfulness, he was given special instructions that became a seal of his ministry.