Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 20:15

"And sailing from thence, we came the following day over against Chios; and the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after we came to Miletus." — Acts 20:15 (ASV)

Over against. Opposite to. Into the vicinity of, or near to it.

Chios, also called Coos, an island in the Archipelago, between Lesbos and Samos. It is on the coast of Asia Minor and is now called Scio. It will long be remembered now as the site of a dreadful massacre of almost all its inhabitants by the Turks in 1823.

At Samos. This was also an island of the Archipelago, lying off the coast of Lydia, from which it is separated by a narrow strait. These islands were celebrated among the ancients for their extraordinary wines.

Trogyllium. This was the name of a town and promontory in Ionia, Asia Minor, between Ephesus and the mouth of the Meander River, opposite Samos. The promontory is a spur of Mount Mycale.

Miletus. Also called Miletum. It was a city and seaport, and the ancient capital of Ionia. It was originally a colony of Cretans.

Miletus became extremely powerful and sent out colonies to many cities on the Euxine Sea. It was also distinguished for a magnificent temple dedicated to Apollo.

It is now called Melas by the Turks. Miletus was the birthplace of Thales, one of the seven wise men of Greece. It was about forty or fifty miles from Ephesus.