John Calvin Commentary Acts 20:13

"But we going before to the ship set sail for Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, intending himself to go by land." — Acts 20:13 (ASV)

When we had taken ship. It is uncertain why Paul chose instead to go by land, whether it was because sailing might be troublesome for him, or so that as he passed by he might visit the brethren. I think that he then avoided the sea for his health’s sake.

His courtesy is to be greatly commended, because he spared his companions. For what other reason did he allow them to depart, if not to spare them the trouble? Thus, we see that they competed with each other in courtesy and good deeds. They were ready and willing to do their duty; but Paul was so far from requiring things strictly from them that, of his own accord and out of courtesy, he excused them from those duties they were ready to perform. Indeed, setting aside his own convenience, he instructed them to do what was for their comfort.

It is well known that the city of Assos is attributed by geographers to Troas. This same city, as Pliny testifies, was also called Apollonia. It is said that it was a free city of the Aetolians.