Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 16:11

"Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;" — Acts 16:11 (ASV)

Samothrace is an island in the northeastern part of the Aegean Sea, lying between Troas and Philippi. It is the most conspicuous landmark in the North Aegean, for its mountains reach up 5,577 feet. It was a stopover for ships plying their trade in the North Aegean. Neapolis on the northern coast of the Aegean was the port for Philippi, which lay ten miles farther inland. Neapolis was on the Via Egnatia, which ran east to Byzantium and west to Philippi, then to Thessalonica, and finally across the Balkan peninsula to the Adriatic coast.

Since Luke was on board, we have a port-by-port description of the voyage, with specific mention of the time it took—as we do in the other “we” sections (see comment on 16:6–19:20). The wind at this crossing must have favored the travelers, for it took only two days to sail the 156 miles to Neapolis, though the trip in the other direction after the third missionary journey took five days (cf. 20:5).