John Chrysostom : "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us." Why a vision, and not the Holy Ghost? because He forbade the other. He would even in this way draw them over: since to the saints also He appeared in a dream, and in the beginning (Paul) himself saw a vision, "a man coming in and laying his hands upon him." In this manner also Christ appears to him, saying, "Thou must stand before Caesar." Then for this reason also He draws him thither, that the preaching may be extended. This is why he was forbidden to tarry long in the other cities, Christ urging him on. For these were to enjoy the benefit of John for a long time, and perhaps did not extremely need him (Paul), but thither he behooved to go. And now he crosses over and goes forth. — Homily on Acts 34 John Chrysostom : "And a vision appeared unto Paul in the night." Not now by Angels, as to Philip, as to Cornelius, but how? By a vision it is now shown to him: in more human sort, not now as before in more divine manner. For where the compliance is more easy, it is done in more human sort; but where great force was needed, there in more divine. For since he was but urged to preach, to this end it is shown him in a dream: but to forbear preaching, he could not readily endure: to this end the Holy Ghost reveals it to him. Thus also it was then with Peter, "Arise, go down." For of course the Holy Spirit did not work what was otherwise easy: but (here) even a dream sufficed him. And to Joseph also, as being readily moved to compliance, the appearance is in a dream, but to the rest in waking vision. Thus to Cornelius, and to Paul himself. — Homily on Acts 34 Oecumenius : No longer through an angel as with Philip or Cornelius, but through a vision it appears to Paul more humanly. For there persuasion is easy, more human; there, however, great force, more divine. Since he was only about to preach, it appears to him as a dream for this purpose. But he did not presume to preach; for by this the Holy Spirit reveals. For, he says, when they came, they attempted to go through Mysia and Bithynia, and the Spirit did not allow them. For the Spirit did not work even the easy things, but a vision sufficed. [AMMONIUS] — Commentary on Acts Origen of Alexandria : If one ought to ascend to a more hidden understanding, I would say that there were certain shepherds — angels who governed human affairs — and that, while each one of these was preserving his own charge and, keeping watch by day and by night, could now no longer bear the labor, and was industriously doing this, that he might govern the nations that had been entrusted to him, an angel came, when the Lord was born, and announced to the shepherds that the true Shepherd had arisen. For example, to come to an illustration, there was a certain shepherd of Macedonia; this one had need of the Lord's help; and therefore there appeared to Paul in his sleep a man of Macedonia, "saying: Cross over into Macedonia and help us". But why do I speak of Paul, when it was not to Paul, but to him who was in Paul, that Jesus spoke this? And so the shepherds have need of the presence of Christ. — HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF Luke 12