Troas - Dalyan Acts 16:8-11;20:5,6,II Tim. 4:13 II Cor. 2:12
The principal seaport in northwest Asia Minor with an artificially
engineered harbor to shelter
boats
from the prevailing northern winds. The site was established about
11 miles from the historic city of Troy (Illium). Strabo refers to
the city as one of the notable cities of the world. The harbor was a
launching site for many boats ferrying people and goods to Neapolis
(modern Kavalla), to begin their land journey to Rome. Emperor
Augustus made it a Roman colony, and it served as a strategic point
on the east west communication route.
After the split with Barnabas, St. Paul and Silas proceeded to visit
the churches of the First Mission Journey in Syria and Cilicia, and
then on into southern Galatia (Acts 15:36-41) carrying the message
of the Jerusalem Council to the churches. Eventually they headed
west toward Europe. Stopping at Troas, St. Paul appeared to desire
to turn north into the regions of upper Galatia, but received the
vision of the Macedonian Man at Troas.
He later described the experience as a door opening in the Lord (2
Cor. 2:12ff). This occurred during St. Paul's Second Journey (Acts
16:6-10). Years later he returned to Troas from his more than two
year stay in Ephesus (Acts 19:8,10) toward the end of the St. Paul's
third journey, before continuing on to Assos. During the last seven
day stay at Troas, the fallen Eutychus was healed (Acts 20:8-12).
The team took the boat to around Cape Lectum to Assos, but St. Paul
chose rather to journey the 20 miles on foot, perhaps desiring a
rare time of solitude.
Some suggest that St. Pauls urgent request to return a cloak he
left in Troas (2 Timothy 4:13) may have reflected that St. Pauls
departure from the city was hurried. Later church history recalls
the reference to Ignatius, after writing three Epistles at Troas,
set sail under arrest to Rome. The site is abandoned today, with
only a few monumental walls intact. A stadium, a gymnasium, some of
the city walls, and the harbor can be outlined.
Biblical Sites in Turkey List