and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
The Spirit forbade preaching in Asia for good reason: other hands were at work there, the people were not yet prepared, or Christ had other work for Paul, preaching the gospel to Romans, whom the Jews hated most. This westward turn of the light shows where the gospel would flow in ages to come.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 16:6-15
And from thence to Philippi,.... This place is by Appianus called Datos, which was its original name; and by Diodorus Siculus, Crenidae (c), from the fountains of water, which were many and wholesome, that were about it; and it had its name Philippi, from Philip king of Macedon, father of Alexander the great, who rebuilt it (d): it is now vulgarly called Chrixopolis, that is...
Verse 12. And from thence to Philippi. The former name of this city was Dathos. It was repaired and adorned by Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, and after him was called Philippi. It was famous for having been the place where several battles were fought in the civil wars of the Romans; and, among others, for the decisive battle between Brutus and Antony.