When they reached the border of Mysia (so New English Bible, Barclay, Twentieth Century New Testament) is apparently the meaning of the expression used by Luke. It seems to be the meaning given by certain other translators who do not use the word border—for example, “came to Mysia” (New American Bible, Phillips), “reached Mysia” (An American Translation*), “got as far as Mysia” (Moffatt), “reached the frontier of Mysia” (Jerusalem Bible). Mysia was a region in the northwest part of the province of Asia. The province of Bithynia (literally “Bithynia,” but with the meaning province of Bithynia) was located northeast of Mysia. Only here in the New Testament does the phrase the Spirit of Jesus appear. Luke obviously intends it as a reference to the Holy Spirit (v. 6).

The translation of the last clause of this verse, namely, the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, involves the same problems as in verse 6 with the phrase the Holy Spirit did not let them. The Greek verbs in question are different (one is positive and the other negative), but the meaning is essentially the same and should be handled in the same general manner.

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 .