Acts 20:13-16 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And we went before to ship Namely, those that were to go with Paul; and sailed unto Assos A city to the south of Troas; there intending to take in Paul Who went thither on foot The place being much nearer by land than by sea; and in order that, being alone for a while, he might employ himself in meditation and prayer, his public work allowing him little time for retirement and private devotion: or, perhaps, he might intend to call on some friends by the way. And when he met us At Assos, according to his own appointment; we took him in, and came to Mitylene The chief city of the island of Lesbos, about seven miles distant from the Asiatic coast; and came the next day over against Chios The island so famous for producing some of the best Grecian wines. The day following they touched at Samos, and, making a short stay at Trogyllium, came the next day to Miletus A city of Caria, south of Trogyllium. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus Which lay on the other side of the bay, without calling there; because he would not spend the time in Asia Having now no time to spare; for he hasted to be at Jerusalem, by the day of pentecost Knowing that a great concourse of people from all parts of Judea, and from distant provinces, would be there, as usual, (Acts 2:1-5,) to celebrate that festival, and that he should thus have an opportunity of testifying the gospel of the grace of God to many, both Jews and proselytes, and of thereby enlarging the kingdom of the Lord Jesus. Besides, the feast of pentecost had been rendered particularly famous among the Christians, by the extraordinary effusion of the Holy Spirit at that time.