Bammerhab: Bible Explainer
Did you know Paul’s life changed twice in the same city?
No, it wasn’t Jerusalem. It wasn’t Damascus. It was Troy.
Troy?
Yup, like the Trojan Horse Troy. Troy itself was gone, but the entire region was named after it: Troas. Paul’s life pivoted twice in Troas.
In Acts 16:7, The spirit explicitly didn’t allow Paul to Go to Asia. We’re not told how, but we’re told that it was a pretty clear No. But frustratingly, the Spirit said no to one direction, but didn’t say where TO go. (Note that this was not a forever no. It was a not yet. Paul would one day spend a great deal of time in Asia, and especially Ephesus. But there was a reason to not go yet.)
So Paul and his companions, took a guess and tried to go towards Bithyinia. We’re not quite sure how far they got with their attempt, but the verb implies that there were plans made and then curtailed and redirected.
Did they make it right to the edge of Bithynia and get redirected? Or did they make it a few steps? We’re not quite sure.
What is clear is that eventually the Spirit sent Paul to Troas. And he did it for at least one reason that we now know…
Want to know what it was? Take a listen!
This episode digs deeper into “epeirazon” (ἐπείραζον - meaning ‘they tested’) in Acts 16:7.
Acts 16:7 - “When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” (NIV)
I’m very grateful to poet Olivia Oster for her poem “The New Paraklesis” that she shares with us at the end of this episode! Find more of her poetry here and here.
Mentioned:
Gospel in Life - Tim Keller Sermon - podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/the-flesh-and-the-devil/
What is a Bammerhab?
“You have not given me into the hands of the enemybut have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Ps. 31:8 - NIV)
The phrase “in a spacious place” is the Hebrew word: Bammerhab.
Thanks to:
• Aaron Woodard - www.woodardsdesign.com
• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew resources