Commentators are sharply divided on their interpretation of the phrase rendered the region of Phrygia and Galatia. Is Luke referring to the Roman political division of the land, according to which a part of Phrygia belonged to the Roman province of Galatia, or does he refer in a popular way to the border district which separated the ethnic regions of Phrygia and Galatia? The Greek defines the region as being both Phrygian and Galatian (literally “the Phrygian and Galatian region”), and therefore the second alternative appears more natural. In order to render the expression the region of Phrygia and Galatia properly in other languages, it is very important in most instances to be precise about the geographical relationships. Obviously this is not a reference to traveling through the two regions, Phrygia and Galatia, but traveling through a border area in some way related to both. If one adopts the second alternative, as suggested here, it may be possible to translate “traveled through the area shared by Phrygia and Galatia” or “traveled through the area between Phrygia and Galatia,” though this latter expression is not fully accurate.

Some translators have wanted to introduce at this point a marginal note with regard to the geographical problem involved, but this detail is hardly vital for the average reader.

Did not let them preach translates a Greek particle which seems to have a causal force: “because the Holy Spirit did not let them preach.” The Greek text implies that Paul and his group planned to go to the Roman province of Asia (probably to its capital city Ephesus). However, since the Holy Spirit would not let them preach in Asia, they passed through the Phrygian-Galatic region, on to the border of Mysia (v. 7). The Greek text simply has “Asia,” but the Good News Translation has expanded this to read the province of Asia. In an even narrower sense “Asia” could be used of the coastal region of the province along the Aegean Sea where the seven cities referred to in Revelation 2–3 were located.

The rendering of did not let them preach involves some serious difficulties in certain languages, since one needs to specify the basis for not having let Paul and his group proceed with their preaching mission. Was this a direct revelation?—that is, did the Holy Spirit tell them “you shall not preach in Asia”? or were Paul and his group led by circumstances not to go into the province of Asia? It is quite impossible to tell on the basis of the Greek text itself. It is preferable under such circumstances to use some rather general expression such as “the Holy Spirit prevented them from speaking”; but if one cannot be as general as this, it may be possible to say “the Holy Spirit showed them that they should not speak.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .