Daily Archives: November 7, 2008

The terms Troy, Troas, and Troad were derived from the name of the ancient people known as the Troes. The Troes lived in the Troad. This region became part of the Roman province of Asia, and was a substantial portion of the area known as Mysia which included the cities of Troas, Assos and Pergamum.

The term Troas or Troad was used to describe the region where Alexander first defeated the Persians in the Battle of Granicus. The city of Alexandria Troas, located about 10 miles from ancient Troy was first called Antigonia. Lysimachus changed the name to Alexandria in about 300 B.C., but there were many cities named for Alexander, so this one came to be called Alexandria Troas.

Colin Hemer points out that “Troas was a nodal point on what became a sophisticated system of international routes, organized functionally with regard to complex variables of speed and safety, of season and weather and conditions by land and sea.” Troas was, therefore, an ideal place from which the Gospel would spread into Europe.

Troas was made a Roman colony by Augustus, and became one of the important cities of northwest Asia. A man of Macedonia appeared in a night vision to Paul at Troas and immediately his traveling party sailed for Macedonia (Acts 16:8‑11). Timothy, Silas, Luke, and perhaps others, were with Paul at Troas.

This photo from Berea illustrates the vision of the man of Macedonia calling on Paul to come over into Macedonia.

A man of Macedonia appears to Paul at Troas. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.