Contradiction with John 16:13
John 16:13 speaks of the Spirit of truth guiding believers, which contrasts Acts 16:7 where the Spirit restricts Paul and his companions from going to certain areas.
John 16:13: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Contradiction with 1 John 4:1
1 John 4:1 advises testing spirits to see if they are from God, suggesting a need for discernment that seems absent in Acts 16:7 where the Spirit directly intervenes.
1 John 4:1: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Contradiction with Acts 1:8
Acts 1:8 promises empowerment by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to the ends of the earth, contradicting the restriction imposed in Acts 16:7.
Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. [power...: or, the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you]
Contradiction with Isaiah 42:16
Isaiah 42:16 speaks of God leading the blind in paths they have not known, which contrasts the Spirit preventing progress in Acts 16:7.
Isaiah 42:16: And I will bring the blind by a way [that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths [that] they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. [straight: Heb. into straightness]
Contradiction with Romans 8:14
Romans 8:14 states that those led by the Spirit are the children of God, yet in Acts 16:7, the Spirit leads by preventing an action.
Romans 8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Paradox #1
There might be a perceived contradiction regarding the guidance of the Holy Spirit because in some interpretations, it seems like the Spirit is preventing the apostles from spreading the Gospel in a certain area, which could raise questions about why their mission to spread Christianity would be limited. This might appear inconsistent with the general directive for the Good News to be preached to all nations. However, explanations often clarify that this guidance had a specific purpose for timing or strategy.