Acts 20:6

And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

Acts 20:6 (KJV)

Context

This verse is a brief travel note within Luke’s account of Paul’s third missionary journey. The use of “we” indicates that Luke, the author of Acts, had rejoined Paul’s traveling party at Philippi, resuming his first-person narration. The companions who had gone ahead to Troas are listed in Acts 20:4, including Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, and Trophimus.

Paul and his companions left Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, which refers to the Jewish feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread, commemorating the exodus from Egypt. This detail primarily marks the time of year for the voyage, not necessarily that they stayed in Philippi to observe the feast.

Meaning

The journey from Philippi to Troas took five days by ship, a common mode of travel in the region. Troas was a city on the northwest coast of Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), an important port and center for trade and commerce. Upon reaching Troas, Paul and his companions stayed there for seven days, during which they would have had opportunity to interact with the local community, both Jews and Gentiles, and share the teachings of Christ.

The seven-day stay at Troas sets the stage for the events that follow in Acts 20:7, where the disciples gathered on the first day of the week to break bread and Paul preached until midnight. This includes the miraculous resurrection of Eutychus, a young man who fell from a third-story window during Paul’s preaching (Acts 20:7-12), demonstrating God’s power and the authority given to Paul as an apostle.

Biblical connections

The reference to the Days of Unleavened Bread connects the narrative to the Jewish calendar, grounding the early church’s activities within its Jewish heritage. The verse also demonstrates the practical realities of early Christian travel and the coordination between Paul and his fellow workers, showing the rhythm of Paul’s ministry as he moved from city to city to strengthen the churches.

Application

While this verse does not contain explicit teachings or instructions, we can draw practical lessons from it. We see Paul’s commitment to spreading the gospel, as he undertakes long and arduous journeys to reach new areas and share the message of Jesus Christ. We can also observe the importance of being obedient to God’s leading and using the opportunities we have to impact others with the love and truth of the gospel.