Paul’s visit to Troas
The
Passage: Acts 20:3-14
Structure:
a. 20:3-6, Journey of Paul
b. 20:7-8, he
kept speaking until midnight
c. 20:9, when
he was picked up – he was dead
c’. 20:10,
don’t be alarmed – there life/soul in him
b’. 20:11-12,
long conversation until daybreak
a’.
20:13-14, Journey of Paul
Within the
few verses we see a long travel of St. Paul, surrounded by many companions from
different congregations: Berea, Thessalonica, Debre and other Asian
territories. The last two places raise an interesting question: did they come
from the Asia to meet him at Macedonia, or did they accompany him during the
whole Third Missionary journey?
In this
lesson we also see new places mentioned – the ones that were not on the mission
trajectory before (v. 13-14), lit. Assos and Miletus.
There is something in the realm of chronology that we need to pay attention to: the bulk of the story develops within about 40 days. Starting chronological point is the feast of Unleavened Bread (Acts 20:6), while St. Paul hopes to conclude his travels BEFORE the celebration of Pentecost (Acts. 20:16). Well-known period 50 days long, meaning that he had to leave Troas within first 40 days.
