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Paul Travels through Macedonia toward Miletus
This travel record shows Paul moving carefully and purposefully through several places. It highlights encouragement, changed plans, travelling companions, and a strong desire to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost.
Understanding the passage
Understanding this record
The passage begins after an uproar has ended. Paul leaves, travels through Macedonia, reaches Greece, then changes his route because of a plot against him. A group goes ahead to Troas, and later the journey continues by sea and land until Paul chooses to sail past Ephesus to save time.
Acts 20:1–6; Acts 20:13–16Main takeaway
This passage shows Paul encouraging believers, adapting his route when needed, and travelling with clear purpose toward Jerusalem.
Explore the record
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Paul leaves and encourages believersAfter the uproar ended, Paul called for the disciples, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia.
Explanation
After the uproar ended, Paul called for the disciples, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia. As he travelled through those regions, he encouraged people with many words before coming into Greece. The journey is not only movement between places. The passage also stresses Paul’s continuing ministry of strengthening others as he goes.
02A changed route because of a plotPaul spent three months in Greece, but his plan changed when a plot was made against him as he was about to sail for Syria.
Explanation
Paul spent three months in Greece, but his plan changed when a plot was made against him as he was about to sail for Syria. Instead of continuing that way, he decided to return through Macedonia. The passage presents this as a practical response to danger, showing flexible planning within the journey.
03Companions and waiting at TroasSeveral named companions travelled as far as Asia: Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus.
Explanation
Several named companions travelled as far as Asia: Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus. Their names show that Paul did not travel alone. Some went ahead and waited at Troas, and the account says, “we sailed away from Philippi”, placing the writer among the travellers at this point.
04From Philippi to Troas, then toward MiletusAfter the days of Unleavened Bread, the group sailed from Philippi to Troas in five days and stayed there seven days.
Explanation
After the days of Unleavened Bread, the group sailed from Philippi to Troas in five days and stayed there seven days. Later, others went by ship while Paul planned to go by land to Assos. From there they sailed by stages to Mitylene, opposite Chios, Samos, Trogyllium, and finally Miletus.
05Why Paul sailed past EphesusThe passage explains Paul’s reason for sailing past Ephesus. He had decided not to spend time in Asia because he was hurrying, if possible, to be in Jerusalem for Pentecost.
Explanation
The passage explains Paul’s reason for sailing past Ephesus. He had decided not to spend time in Asia because he was hurrying, if possible, to be in Jerusalem for Pentecost. This detail gives the journey a clear direction. His travel choices were shaped by a specific goal and timeframe.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does this passage show Paul doing as he travelled through Macedonia?
Look for more than place names. Acts says he encouraged believers with many words as he moved through those regions.
02Why did Paul change his plan instead of sailing for Syria?
The text gives a direct reason: a plot was made against him, so he chose a different route through Macedonia.
03What details show that this is a careful travel record, not just a summary?
Notice the named companions, the waiting at Troas, the five-day trip, the seven-day stay, and the step-by-step place names to Miletus.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Acts 20:1–6
1After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.
2When he had gone through those parts and had encouraged them with many words, he came into Greece.
3When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.
4These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
5But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas.
6We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.
Acts 20:13–16
13But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there; for he had so arranged, intending himself to go by land.
14When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and came to Mitylene.
15Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus.
16For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.