Paul’s travel from Philippi to Troas demonstrates his adaptability and commitment to reaching different cultural communities for Christ.
Luke, the author of Acts, describes the continued journey of Paul and his companions in these words: “We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days” (Acts 20:6). This passage occurs during Paul’s third missionary journey, likely around AD 57, as he traveled through Macedonia. Philippi was a well-established Roman colony in northern Greece, a place of significant ministry described earlier in Acts 16, where Paul and Silas had once been imprisoned. The reference to “the days of Unleavened Bread” indicates they waited until the important Jewish festival was completed before sailing, which demonstrates Paul’s ongoing respect for his heritage and for the Jewish believers who observed these holy days (he writes elsewhere that Christ is our true Passover, showing the deeper fulfillment of these traditions, see 1 Corinthians 5:7).
When Luke writes that they arrived in Troas within five days and stayed there for a week, “…and there we stayed seven days” (Acts 20:6), he highlights the strategic nature of this city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Troas served as a major port on the Aegean Sea, linking Europe and Asia, making it an essential travel and communication hub in that era. By lingering there for seven days, Paul had further time to teach and disciple believers, a hallmark of his ministry. This city also appears elsewhere in the New Testament, reminding us how Paul often used Troas as a gateway for his mission work (2 Corinthians 2:12).
This verse illustrates both Paul’s meticulous planning and his reliance on the Holy Spirit’s leading. The travel details confirm that the spread of the gospel was rooted in real locations and real events, underlining the historical credibility of the account. The mention of the Unleavened Bread festival underscores Paul’s cultural and religious context, which he embraced while proclaiming how Jesus Christ fulfilled the deeper significance of these holy days. Coupled with earlier passages that describe God’s continual guidance of Paul, Acts 20:6 underscores the faithful obedience and the unwavering resolve that defined Paul’s missionary ventures.
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Acts 20:6 meaning
Luke, the author of Acts, describes the continued journey of Paul and his companions in these words: “We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days” (Acts 20:6). This passage occurs during Paul’s third missionary journey, likely around AD 57, as he traveled through Macedonia. Philippi was a well-established Roman colony in northern Greece, a place of significant ministry described earlier in Acts 16, where Paul and Silas had once been imprisoned. The reference to “the days of Unleavened Bread” indicates they waited until the important Jewish festival was completed before sailing, which demonstrates Paul’s ongoing respect for his heritage and for the Jewish believers who observed these holy days (he writes elsewhere that Christ is our true Passover, showing the deeper fulfillment of these traditions, see 1 Corinthians 5:7).
When Luke writes that they arrived in Troas within five days and stayed there for a week, “…and there we stayed seven days” (Acts 20:6), he highlights the strategic nature of this city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Troas served as a major port on the Aegean Sea, linking Europe and Asia, making it an essential travel and communication hub in that era. By lingering there for seven days, Paul had further time to teach and disciple believers, a hallmark of his ministry. This city also appears elsewhere in the New Testament, reminding us how Paul often used Troas as a gateway for his mission work (2 Corinthians 2:12).
This verse illustrates both Paul’s meticulous planning and his reliance on the Holy Spirit’s leading. The travel details confirm that the spread of the gospel was rooted in real locations and real events, underlining the historical credibility of the account. The mention of the Unleavened Bread festival underscores Paul’s cultural and religious context, which he embraced while proclaiming how Jesus Christ fulfilled the deeper significance of these holy days. Coupled with earlier passages that describe God’s continual guidance of Paul, Acts 20:6 underscores the faithful obedience and the unwavering resolve that defined Paul’s missionary ventures.