Acts 20:6

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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) And came unto them to Troas in five days.—The voyage from Troas to Philippi (see Notes on Acts 16:11-12) had taken only three days, but the ship had now to contend against the south-west current that set in from the Dardanelles, and probably also against the Etesian winds blowing from the north-east that prevail in the Archipelago in the spring.

Where we abode seven days.—It lies on the surface that the motive for this stay was to keep the Lord’s day (the name was probably already current; see Revelation 1:10), and to partake with the Church of what, even before the date of this journey, St. Paul had already spoken of as the Lord’s Supper (1Corinthians 11:20).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:1-6 Tumults or opposition may constrain a Christian to remove from his station or alter his purpose, but his work and his pleasure will be the same, wherever he goes. Paul thought it worth while to bestow five days in going to Troas, though it was but for seven days' stay there; but he knew, and so should we, how to redeem even journeying time, and to make it turn to some good account.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

After the days of unleavened bread - After the seven days of the Passover, during which they ate only unleavened bread. See Exodus 12.

In five days - They crossed the Aegean Sea. Paul, when he crossed it on a former occasion, did it in two days Acts 16:11-12; but the navigation of the sea is uncertain, and they were now probably hindered by contrary winds.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. And we sailed … from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread—(that is, the Passover). This, compared with 1Co 16:8, shows that the three months spent at Corinth (Ac 20:3) were the winter months.

came … to Troas—for the third and last time. (See on [2073]Ac 16:8 and [2074]Ac 20:1).

in the five days—As it might have been done in two days, the wind must have been adverse. The vivid style of one now present will be here again observed.

where we abode seven days—that is, arriving on a Monday, they stayed over the Jewish sabbath and the Lord's Day following; Paul occupying himself, doubtless, in refreshing and strengthening fellowship with the brethren during the interval.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

From Philippi; where they embarked, and sailed on the river first, then on the sea.

After the days of unleavened bread; though St. Paul would not have the Gentile converts to be burdened with the ceremonial law, yet, that he might not offend the Jews, for a while he complied with their rites, Acts 18:21, they being indeed dead, but not yet deadly; and therefore he stays his journey all the time of the passover solemnity, instructing them in the mean while of the nature and use of such things.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And we sailed away from Philippi,.... Which was in Macedonia, from whence they came in a straight course by Samothracia, over the Hellespont, to Troas, where the above six persons were waiting for them: and they set sail

after the days of unleavened bread; or the passover; which is mentioned only to observe the time of year when this voyage was taken; and not to suggest to us that Paul and his company stayed at Philippi, and kept this feast there; for the passover was only kept at Jerusalem, and besides was now abolished, and not to be observed by Christians:

and came unto them to Troas in five days; not that they were five days sailing from Philippi to Troas; but either they were so long in all, from their first setting out into Asia, to their arrival at Troas; or rather, they came to Troas within five days after the above six persons had got thither; so that they waited at Troas but five days for the apostle, and those that accompanied him.

Where we abode seven days; by what follows they came into Troas on the Lord's day evening, or early on Monday morning, and stayed there till the next Lord's day, or first day of the week; for it follows,

Geneva Study Bible

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.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 20:6. μετὰ τὰς ἡμ. τῶν ἀ., cf. Acts 12:3, i.e., the Passover. 1 Corinthians 5:7 shows us how they would “keep the Feast”. Ramsay’s “fixed date in the life of St. Paul,” Expositor, May, 1896, depends partly on the assumption that Paul left Philippi the very first day after the close of the Paschal week, but we cannot be sure of this, see Wendt’s criticism on Ramsay’s view, p. 326, edition 1899, and also Dr. Robertson “I. Corinthians” Hastings’ B.D., p. 485.—ἄχρις ἡμ. πέντε: “in five days,” i.e., the journey lasted until the fifth day, so πεμπταῖοι, cf. δευτεραῖοι, Acts 28:13. In Acts 16:11 the journey only lasted two (three?) days, but here probably adverse winds must be taken into account; or the five days may include a delay at Neapolis, the port of Philippi, or the land journey to the port; on ἄχρις see above Acts 1:2.—ἡμέρας ἑπτά, so as to include a whole week, and so the first day of the week, cf. 2 Corinthians 2:12-13, which shows how reluctantly Paul left Troas on his former visit, but see on the other hand, Ramsay, St. Paul, p. 295, who thinks that St. Paul would not have voluntarily stayed seven days at Troas.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. And we … unleavened bread] St Paul seems to have stayed in Philippi because of the Jewish feast. As there could be no sacrifice of the Passover out of Jerusalem, the Apostle would feel no difficulty about remaining at any other form of the feast, and we know how loath he was to sever himself from his people in all things which he might lawfully share with them.

and came unto them … seven days] Troas could not be without much interest both to St Paul and Luke and Timothy, for at least these three had been here together, on that former visit when they were called over to Macedonia by a vision. Aristarchus and Secundus represented in part the fruits which God had granted to their work.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 20:6. Ἡμεῖς, we) Again the writer of the book was present with Paul.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - Tarried for abode, A.V. We; distinctly marking that Luke, the author of the narrative, whom we left at Philippi (Acts 16:13, 14), joined him again at the same place. Renan (p. 498) well remarks, "At Philippi Paul once more met the disciple who had guided him for the first time to Macedonia. He attached him to his company again, and thus secured as his companion in the voyage the historian who was to write an account of it, with such infinite charm of manner and such perfect truth." It may be noted that this passage is quite conclusive against the notion entertained by some, that Timothy was the writer of the Acts. From Philippi; i.e. from Neapolis, the port of Philippi. After the days of unleavened bread, which lasted eight days, including the day of eating the Passover. In five days. An unusually long voyage, owing, doubtless, to unfavorable winds. On the former occasion when he sailed from Troas to Neapolis he was only two days (Acts 16:11). Where we tarried seven days. As the last of these seven days was Sunday - " the first day of the week" - he must have arrived on the preceding Monday, and left Neapolis on the preceding Thursday. Some, however, reckon the days differently. It must be remembered that the apostle's movements were dependent upon the arrival and departure of the merchant ships by which he traveled. Acts 20:6

Vincent's Word Studies

In five days (ἄχρις ἡμερῶν πέντε)

Lit., "up to five days," indicating the duration of the voyage from Philippi.