Note 2 at Acts 16:10: The writer's change from the third person narrative to the "we" in this verse, indicates that this is where Luke joined Paul's group (see "Authorship" in the introduction to the book of Acts, p. 568).

Note 3 at Acts 16:10: Because of this vision, there was no doubt that the Lord had led them to preach the gospel in Macedonia. Therefore, most people would expect nothing but good knowing that they were in God's perfect will. However, within a short time, Paul and Silas were in the stocks in a dungeon in Philippi. Paul and his company were also persecuted in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-9) and Berea (Acts 17:13) so that Paul had to flee for his life (Acts 17:14-15). They had nothing but trouble but it is certain that they were doing exactly what the Lord wanted them to do.

The misconception that, "if God is in it, there will be no problems" is not only wrong it is dangerous. This kind of thinking has caused many people to "back off" from what God has told them to do when things don't go the way they expected. If Paul would have thought that way, Satan could have stopped the gospel.

Our problems do not come from God (see note 48 at Jn. 15:2, p. 496), therefore, we should not pray for problems (Mt. 6:13) and we should not embrace them as being "a blessing from God in disguise." But we also should not be shocked that trials come (1 Pet. 4:12) and we should not let problems or the lack thereof confirm or deny God's will for us.