Alexandria Troas

(Acts 16:6-10; 20:7-12; 2 Cor. 2:12-13)  

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, 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, 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 this Second Mission 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 Third Mission 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 Paul chose rather to journey the 20 miles on foot, perhaps desiring a rare time of solitude.  

Some suggest that Paul’s urgent request to return a cloak he left in Troas (2 Timothy 4:13) may have reflected that Paul’s 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.