The distance between Troas and Assos is between 20 and 30 miles, and travelers have

spoken of difficulty in finding the road. In Paul's day, however, there was a good Roman

road (see the Antonne Itinerary), and it was doubtless along this road that the Apostle

Some commentators "wonder why" the Apostle took this course, but we believe that

any who have been engaged for any length of time in public ministry, especially if it has

involved meeting fresh people and dealing with fresh problems, will readily understand

the Apostle's imperative need for a few hours entirely free, even from the company of

those he loved so well.

Meeting the ship at Assos, the Apostle continues his journey via Mitylene,

Chios, Samos and Trogyllium to Miletus. In the two verses that describe this journey

(Acts 20: 14, 15) we find the characteristic variety of expression that denotes that the

record is a personal one. We read that they "came" to Mitylene; they "came opposite"

Chios; they "touched at" Samos; they "remained" for a while at Trogyllium; and at

length "came" to Miletus. The Apostle had deliberately "sailed by" Ephesus, in order to

save time, "for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem on the day of

With this remark, the section before us reaches its conclusion, and once again we must

bring our study to a close. There is an intensity about these steps leading to Jerusalem,

and we begin to sense that a crisis is at hand--a crisis which prepared the way for the

introduction of a new dispensation, and which is therefore of intense interest to all who

realize their association with the dispensation of the Mystery.

An examination of a modern map will show that considerable changes have taken

place on the coast at Miletus since the days of the apostles. What in those days were

islands off the coast are now gentle elevations on dry land, while the river Meander near

which Miletus stood, has brought down so much soil in its circuitous course that the

whole aspect of the place has completely changed. Miletus is placed by the sea in

Ptolemy's geography, and is stated to have had four havens, one of which could hold a

fleet.

In 20: 16 we read the "Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not

spent the time in Asia". For some unrecorded reason, however, the ship was delayed and

Paul seizes the opportunity to send to the Church at Ephesus asking the elders to meet