Hello Everyone,
[Sunrise at Assos, Turkey.]
It is our last day in the country of Turkey, “the other Bible land.” The most important Biblical site we’ll see today is Alexandria Troas. Why would I chose Troas over legendary Troy or historical Assos?
Alexandria Troas is located about ten miles from ancient Troy and had an important harbor that connected Anatolia with Macedonia and Greece.
It was at Alexandria Troas during Paul’s second missionary journey that he received what we often call “the Macedonia vision.” In Acts 16:9-12 a “man” beckons Paul to “come over and help us.” Paul later wrote to the church at Corinth that he was disappointed at not finding Titus at Troas, so he went on to Macedonia (2 Corinthians 2:12-13). This was God’s way of extending the reach of His Church “to the remotest parts of the earth.”
While Paul was on his third missionary journey he raised Eutychus from the dead after he fell out of a window (Acts 20:6-12). Later, in a letter, Paul asks Timothy to “bring the cloak he left with Carpus in Troas and the books” (2 Timothy 4:13). Paul continued to faithfully fulfill the mission God had given him.
When it was time to leave Alexandria Troas, Paul arranged for his traveling companions to sail the short distance to Assos. Paul planned to walk the 24 miles to Assos. That’s odd. Why would Paul walk while it was just as convenient for him to sail? What’s up with the solitude?
We know that after rejoining his companions in Assos they sailed to Miletus. There Paul summoned the Ephesian elders to meet him. After admonishing them to be faithful to the Lord, Paul told them in so many words that he did not expect to ever see them again (Acts 20:38).
We also know that Paul sailed on to Caesarea Maritima. When Paul had been there many days, Agabus arrived and used Paul’s belt to illustrate that Paul would be imprisoned if he continued to Jerusalem (Acts 21:11ff.).
It was suggested that the day’s journey from Alexandria Troas to Assos may have been Paul’s “gethsemane” experience. While walking those 24 miles he may have wrestled with God about what God was calling him to next. It is possible that after agonizing “is there any other way?,” Paul ultimately submitted to “Thy will be done.”
Today Alexandria Troas is an insignificant village. There is no tourism to speak of. The archaeological ruins have not been well preserved. The ancient harbor is silted. Most groups following Paul’s journeys don’t include going to Troas because it is out of the way and there isn’t anything significant to see. However, hearing the relevant Scriptures read and explained were worth the effort it took to stand and gaze at the harbor. God used the place of Troas to communicate His will to Paul more than once. Because of Paul’s obedience to go to Macedonia and Jerusalem there is a continuing effect for us today. The (spiritually) dead are still being raised to (eternal) life. The (spiritually) living are still dying (daily) to their own will only to see the effects of “Thy will be done,” like a sunrise over the Aegean Sea.
Jim
Explore