Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 16:8

"and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas." — Acts 16:8 (ASV)

Came down to Troas. Their travels had at last led them to the coast, and they looked out upon the waters of the Ægean. The town of Alexandria Troas, at this time regarded as a Roman colony and a free city, recalls to our memories, without entering into vexed questions about its identity with the site of the older Troy, the great poem that tells us the tale of Ilium.

To St. Paul that poem was probably unknown, and if it had been otherwise, the associations connected with it would have held no appeal for him. The question that must have occupied all his thoughts was where he was next to proclaim the glad tidings of the Christ, and of forgiveness and peace through Him. That question, we may well believe, expressed itself in prayer, and to that prayer, the vision in the next verse was an answer.