Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 16:8

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

Mysia was a region in northwest Asia Minor that lacked precise boundaries because it never was an independent political entity. It was generally considered to be bounded by the Aegean Sea on the west; the Hellespont (or Dardanelles), Propontis (or Sea of Marmara), and Bithynia along its northern extremities from west to east; Galatia on the east and southeast; Phrygia to the south; and the area of Lydia to the southwest. It included the historic Aegean seaport of Troas and the site of ancient Troy some ten miles inland. As Paul’s party moved northwest along the borders of Mysian territory, they decided to go on into the Thracian area of Bithynia in order to evangelize the strategic cities and important Black Sea ports there, all of which were interconnected by an elaborate Roman road system. But, Luke tells us, “the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (v.7). Later, Christians in Bithynia were included in the salutation of 1 Peter 1:1. But Paul was not directed by God to evangelize there. Instead, the missionary party turned westward again, traveling through Mysia till they reached Troas on the Aegean coast.