Acts 20 6

Acts 20:6 kjv

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 nkjv

But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Acts 20:6 niv

But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Acts 20:6 esv

but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

Acts 20:6 nlt

After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week.

Acts 20 verses

Acts 20 6 Meaning

This verse recounts the resumption of Paul's journey towards Jerusalem after his extended stay in Greece, specifically detailing his departure from Philippi following the observation of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It notes the specific travel time to Troas and a subsequent week-long sojourn there, underscoring the precise chronology and logistics of Paul's travels. It also signals the re-entry of the narrator, Luke, into the travelogue.

Acts 20 6 Context

This verse marks a specific point in Paul's third missionary journey, as he begins his deliberate return to Jerusalem, explicitly choosing a land route through Macedonia and Asia Minor rather than a direct sea route to Syria, due to threats against his life (Acts 20:3). The preceding verses describe his ministry in Greece, his intention to sail directly to Syria, and the subsequent change of plans, as well as the listing of his travel companions who had gone ahead. Acts 20:6 begins a significant section often referred to as a "we-section," indicating the presence and first-person narration of Luke, the author of Acts, rejoining Paul's company in Philippi. The chapter culminates in Paul's poignant farewell address to the Ephesian elders, anticipating future struggles for the church.

Acts 20 6 Word analysis

• "But we sailed away":

  • Ἀπεπλεύσαμεν (Apepleúsamen): "We sailed away." (Aorist active indicative of ἀποπλέω apopleó). This verb specifically means to "sail from" a place. The "we" pronoun is significant.
  • Significance: The explicit reintroduction of "we" (the Greek ἡμεῖς hēmeis being emphatic with the verb form) marks Luke's reunion with Paul's missionary team. It indicates a firsthand account, suggesting Luke joined Paul in Philippi. This narrative shift adds a layer of authenticity and detail to the subsequent events.

• "from Philippi" (ἀπὸ Φιλίππων - apo Philippōn):

  • Φιλίππων (Philippōn): Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia, a city where Paul had previously founded a church and suffered imprisonment (Acts 16).
  • Significance: This was the location where Luke had likely been based since the close of the second missionary journey (Acts 16:17-40). His departure from Philippi with Paul underscores their renewed companionship and the church's stability even after Paul's initial departure.

• "after the days of Unleavened Bread" (μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας τῶν ἀζύμων - meta tas hēmeras tōn azýmōn):

  • μετὰ (meta): "After." Temporal conjunction.
  • τῶν ἀζύμων (tōn azýmōn): "Of Unleavened Bread." (Plural noun referring to the feast, literally "unleavened things"). This seven-day festival immediately followed Passover and commemorated the swift Exodus from Egypt.
  • Significance: The timing indicates that Paul and his companions either actively participated in observing this significant Jewish festival or respectfully waited for its conclusion. This detail shows continuity with Jewish heritage within early Christianity and aligns with Paul's practice of "being all things to all people" (1 Cor 9:19-23) to effectively preach the Gospel, even as Apostle to the Gentiles. It also confirms their general travel schedule adhered to significant cultural and religious events.

• "and in five days" (καὶ ἐν πέντε ἡμέραις - kai en pente hēmerais):

  • πέντε (pente): "Five."
  • Significance: Luke's meticulous recording of travel durations. This voyage duration (likely from Neapolis, Philippi's port, to Troas) contrasts with the two-day journey on the reverse trip mentioned in Acts 16:11-12. This disparity may suggest challenging wind conditions or a more indirect route, common in ancient seafaring, a detail characteristic of Luke's attention to real-world travel specifics.

• "we came to them at Troas" (ἤλθομεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν Τρῳάδα - ēlthomen pros autous eis tēn Trōáda):

  • ἤλθομεν (ēlthomen): "We came." (Aorist active indicative of ἔρχομαι erchomai).
  • πρὸς αὐτοὺς (pros autous): "To them." This refers specifically to the other companions of Paul listed in Acts 20:4 (Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, Trophimus) who had sailed ahead to Troas.
  • Τρῳάδα (Trōáda): Troas, a major port city on the northwest coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), strategically important for trade and travel. Paul had ministered there before (Acts 16:8, 2 Cor 2:12).
  • Significance: This detail highlights the coordinated, team-based nature of Paul's missionary endeavors, where groups often split and reunited according to travel plans. Troas served as a critical rendezvous point and had significant history for Paul's ministry.

• "where we stayed seven days" (οὗ διετρίψαμεν ἡμέρας ἑπτά - hou dietrípsamen hēmeras heptá):

  • διετρίψαμεν (dietrípsamen): "We stayed," "we spent time." (Aorist active indicative of διατρίβω diatribó). This verb often implies spending time intentionally, not just passing through.
  • ἑπτά (heptá): "Seven."
  • Significance: A week-long stay was a typical period for sustained teaching, fellowship, and evangelistic ministry. It naturally accommodated meeting on the Sabbath and, more significantly for the emerging church, on "the first day of the week" for Christian gatherings, as confirmed by the subsequent verse (Acts 20:7). This planned duration provided a robust opportunity for community building and instruction before continuing their arduous journey.

Acts 20 6 Bonus section

• The "we" passages in Acts (e.g., Acts 16:10-17, 20:5-15, 21:1-18, 27:1-28:16) are pivotal in establishing the author's (Luke's) historical accuracy and his direct involvement as Paul's companion. His rejoining Paul in Philippi after several years signifies a renewed shared mission.
• The timing around the "Days of Unleavened Bread" can suggest either a personal observance by Paul and his Jewish companions (e.g., Timothy or Sopater) or a strategic decision to align their travel with a period when many Jewish people or God-fearers might also be traveling or gathered, creating unique evangelistic opportunities once the festival concluded. It implicitly shows the intermingling of Jewish identity and Christian faith in the early church.
• Troas was more than just a port; it was a repeated ministry point for Paul where significant events transpired, from the "Macedonian Call" vision to facing opposition but finding an open door for the Gospel. Its inclusion here marks it as a familiar and often vital hub for Paul's network.

Acts 20 6 Commentary

Acts 20:6 encapsulates Paul's determined progression towards Jerusalem, initiating a meticulous travelogue filled with precise chronological and geographical data. The verse emphasizes several key aspects of early Christian ministry: Paul's ongoing, albeit complex, connection to Jewish customs exemplified by waiting "after the days of Unleavened Bread"; the strategic logistics of missionary travel involving various companions and pre-planned rendezvous points; and Luke's significant rejoining of Paul's team in Philippi, transitioning the narrative into a firsthand eyewitness account. The contrasting journey times from Troas to Philippi (two days) versus the return trip (five days) reveal the practical realities of ancient sea travel and Luke's detailed observation. The extended seven-day stop in Troas was not merely a pause but a purposeful period for profound community engagement, likely culminating in significant fellowship and teaching as foreshadowed in the subsequent narrative, reinforcing the commitment to sustained spiritual instruction in their apostolic work.