In the Footsteps of Paul: Day 13, Friday March 6

Assos, Troas, and Troy

When Paul set out on his second missionary journey, he went overland from Antioch in Syria into Cilicia, Pisidia and Galatia to visit churches he had planted there, but he was prevented by the Holy Spirit from entering the Roman provinces of Asia to the south or Bythnia to the north.  Almost by default, he found himself in Troas on the Aegean coast. Why had the Holy Spirit prevented Paul from going into familiar land? "During the night Paul had a vision.  There stood a man from Macedonia pleading with him and saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.'" (Acts 16:9-10)  Paul immediately arranged for passage on board ship from Troas to Macedonia--from Asia to Europe.  It was there, as Paul left Troas, the Good News of God's salvation in Jesus Christ came to a new continent, and spread to Europe.  Many historians rank this event as one of the key moments in the development of Western civilization.  We visited Troas this morning.

 Pilgrims walking to the harbor at Troas 

The Harbor at Troas, from which Paul took the Gospel to Europe.

Pilgrims at Troas.

Paul also visited Troas near the end of his 3rd Missionary Journey.  He had returned from visiting the churches he planted in Macedonia and Greece, and was planning to set sail with his companions for the Holy Land.  He met with Christians there, and preached well after midnight.  A young boy named Eutychus was sitting in an open window, fell asleep (not the first time that's happened during a sermon), and fell three stories to the ground.  His friends thought he was dead, but Paul went down, and raised him to life.  (Acts 20:7-12)

Teaching about Paul at Troas.

Paul's companions intended to sail directly from Troas, but Paul determined to walk from there to the port of Assos, about 24 miles to the south.  His friends landed the ship at Assos and picked up Paul. (Acts 20:13)  They then set sail for Miletus, where Paul gave his farewell speech to the elders in the church at Ephesus (see the blog, Day 11).  Why did Paul choose to walk rather than sail that distance? Days before, he had just faced the angry silversmiths in the riot at Ephesus; then in Troas he raised young Eutychus from the dead. Ahead of him lay his emotional farewell speech to the beloved elders of Ephesus.  Like Jesus, perhaps Paul wanted to be by himself for a while to pray, ponder, and prepare for the will of God.

Our hotel was right on the harbor at Assos, and we awoke to the beauty of that village.

Assos was a major port in Roman times, and it has a wonderful Acropolis high above the harbor.

View from the Assos Acropolis.

The Temple of Athena at Assos, with the Greek Island of Lesbos in the background.

Following the visits to Assos and Troas, we also visited the archeological excavations of Troy. Though the site has no Pauline significance, it carries historical importance as Troy was the setting for Homer's epic tale "The Illiad".  Unique in all the world, there are nine distinct cities that have been excavated at Troy, with the first being 5000 years old!  Homer's "The Illiad" is set in the sixth city.  

"Beware Greeks bearing gifts."

The ramp leading to the southern gate, perhaps on which the Trojan horse was brought into the city.  

The Temple of Apollo in Troy.

We are spending the night in Canakkale. From there we can look across the Dardanelles to the Gallipoli Peninsula, where over 100,000 men lost their lives during a battle in World War I.  That was one of humanity's great tragedies, far closer to us than those of Homer.

View of Gallipoli across the Dardenelles.

Following in Paul's footsteps, tomorrow we too will cross over to Europe, and begin our pilgrimage in Greece.