Acts 16:9

“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night, etc.] Either in a dream, or, it may be, when he was awake: there stood a man of Macedonia; an angel in the form of a man; the Syriac version reads, “as a man of Macedonia”, and who might appear in a Macedonian habit, or speak in the Macedonian language; or the apostle might conclude him to be so, from his making mention of Macedonia, as the place where he requested him to come, and assist: and prayed him, saying, come over into Macedonia; Macedonia was a very large country in Europe; which formerly consisted, as Pliny f783 says, of a hundred and fifty people, or nations, and was called Emathia; it took its name of Macedonia from Macedo, a son of…”

“a vision appeared to Paul in the night--while awake, for it is not called a dream. There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us--Stretching his eye across the Ægean Sea, from Troas on the northeast, to the Macedonian hills, visible on the northwest, the apostle could hardly fail to think this the destined scene of his future labors; and, if he retired to rest with this thought, he would be thoroughly prepared for the remarkable intimation of the divine will now to be given him. This visional Macedonian discovered himself by what he said. But it was a cry not of conscious desire for the Gospel, but of deep need of it and unconscious…”

“And a vision - See the notes on Acts 9:10. There stood a man - etc. The appearance of a man who was known to be of Macedonia, probably by his dress and language. Whether this was in a dream, or whether it was a representation made to the senses while awake, it is impossible to tell. The will of God was at different times made known in both these ways. Compare Matthew 2:12; note, Acts 10:3. Grotius supposes that this was the guardian angel of Macedonia, and refers for illustration to Daniel 10:12-13, Daniel 10:20-21. But there seems to be no foundation for this opinion. Of Macedonia - This was an extensive country of Greece, having Thrace on the north, Thessaly south, Epirus west, and the…”

“A vision appeared to Paul by night - It was not a dream, though it was by night. No other dream is mentioned in the New Testament than that of Joseph and of Pilate's wife. A man of Macedonia - Probably an angel clothed in the Macedonian habit, or using the language of the country, and representing the inhabitants of it. Help us - Against Satan, ignorance, and sin. Acts 16:10”

“16:9-10 a vision: See “Visions” Theme Note.”

“a vision: Act 2:17, Act 2:18, Act 9:10-12, Act 10:3, Act 10:10-17, Act 10:30, Act 11:5-12, Act 18:9, Act 18:10, Act 22:17-21; Act 27:23, Act 27:24; Co2 12:1-4, Co2 12:7 Macedonia: Act 18:5, Act 19:21; Rom 15:26; Co2 7:5, Co2 8:1, Co2 9:2, Co2 11:9; Th1 1:7, Th1 1:8, Th1 4:10 Come: Act 8:26-31, Act 9:38, Act 10:32, Act 10:33, Act 11:13, Act 11:14; Rom 10:14, Rom 10:15 Acts 16:10”