"In a few business-like words Luke takes his readers over some of the most storied coasts of ancient myth and history."826
20:13-14 Ships had to round Cape Lectum to reach Assos (modern Bahram Koi) from Troas. This was a more time-consuming route than the road between these towns, which were 20 miles apart. By taking the land route Paul was able to stay in Troas a little longer. Mitylene was the chief city of the island of Lesbos, the largest of the islands of western Asia Minor.
20:15 Chios was the major town of a small island by the same name on which the poet Homer had been born. Samos was another island off the coast of Asia directly west of Ephesus another day's sail south. Miletus stood 30 miles south of Ephesus on the mainland.
20:16 Paul evidently concluded that it would be too time-consuming or dangerous to return to Ephesus. He wanted to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost, which was 50 days after Passover (cf. v. 6; 2:1). Paul's visit to Miletus, therefore, must have occurred in late April of 57 A.D.
