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Acts 16:11

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 16:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;
Acts 16:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;
12and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a [Roman] colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days.
13And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together.
14And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.
← Acts 16:10Acts 16:12 →
← Full Chapter 16 Acts Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Therefore loosing from Troas, etc.] Or setting sail from thence, which, as before observed, was the Hellespont; which was a narrow sea that divided Asia from Europe, now called Stretto di Gallipoii, or Bracci di St. Georgio: and so Pliny f785 speaking of Troas says, it lies near the Hellespont; and Jerom f786 calls it a maritime city of Asia; and it further appears to be on the sea coast, by what is said in (<442006>Acts 20:6), for from Philippi hither, the apostle and his company sailed in five days, and from hence they sailed to Assos, (<442006>Acts 20:6,13) we came with a straight course to Samothracia; which was an island in the Aegean sea, or Archipelago: it was formerly called Dardania…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Therefore loosing from Troas, we came--literally, "ran." with a straight course--that is, "ran before the wind." to Samothracia--a lofty island on the Thracian coast, north from Troas, with an inclination westward. The wind must have set in strong from the south or south-southeast to bring them there so soon, as the current is strong in the opposite direction, and they afterwards took five days to what they now did in two (Act 20:6) [HOWSON]. next day to Neapolis--on the Macedonian, or rather Thracian, coast, about sixty-five miles from Samothracia, and ten from Philippi, of which it is the harbor.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Loosing from Troas - Setting sail from this place. To Samothracia - This was an island in the Aegean Sea not far from Thrace. It was populated by inhabitants from Samos and from Thrace, and hence called Samothracia. It was about 20 miles in circumference, and was an asylum for fugitives and criminals. And the next day to Nepalese - This was a maritime city of Macedonia, near the borders of Thrace. It was about 10 miles from Philippi. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“We ran with a straight course - Which increased their confidence that God had called them. Acts 16:12”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“16:11 Samothrace is a small mountainous island lying west-northwest of the Hellespont about twenty miles (32 km) from the coast of Thrace. • Neapolis (modern Kavala) was the seaport for Philippi and the eastern terminus of the famous Via Egnatia (the Egnatian Way), which ran from Rome to Asia.”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification