SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:11
Partidos pues de Troas, vinimos camino derecho a Samotracia, y el día siguiente a Nepolis;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 16:11
Verse 11. Loosing from Troas] Setting sail from this place. With a straight course to Samothracia] This was an island of the AEgean Sea, contiguous to Thrace, and hence called Samothracia, or the Thracian Samos. It is about twenty miles in circumference, and is now called Samandrachi by the Turks, who are its present masters.
And the next day to Neapolis.] There were many cities of this name; but this was a sea-port town of Macedonia, a few miles eastward of Philippi.
Neapolis signifies the new city.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. Therefore loosing from Troas , etc.] Or setting sail from thence, which, as before observed, was the Hellespont; which was a narrow sea that divided Asia from Europe, now called Stretto di Gallipoii, or Bracci di St. Georgio: and so Pliny speaking of Troas says, it lies near the Hellespont; and Jerom calls it a maritime city of Asia; and it further appears to be on the sea coast, by what is said in ( Acts 20:6), for from Philippi hither, the apostle and his company sailed in five days, and from hence they sailed to Assos, ( Acts 20:6,13) we came with a straight course to Samothracia ; which was an island in the Aegean sea, or Archipelago: it was formerly called Dardania f787 , from Dardanus the, son of Jupiter by Electra, who fled hither from Italy, upon killing his brother Jasius; it had its name of Samothracia, from Thracia, near to which it was, and from the Samians who inhabited it; and it was called Samothracia to distinguish it from the island Samos in the Ionian sea; it is now called Samandrachi: Jerom calls it an island in the gulf of Pagasa; of this island of Samothracia, Pliny says f789 , that it was free before Hebrus, was thirty two miles from Imbrus, twenty two and a half from Lemnus, thirty eight, from the shore of Thracia, and in circumference thirty two and that it is fullest of good havens of any in those parts; and adds, that Callimachus calls it by its ancient name Dardania; it seems it was also called Leucosia, or Leucadia, because to spectators at a distance it looked white: according to Herodotus the Pelasgi first inhabited Samothracia, who with the Athenians dwelt there, and from them the Samothracians received their sacred rites and mysteries; for this island was famous for the worship of the Cabiri, or chief deities of the Gentiles, particularly Ceres, Proserpina, Pluto, Mercury, and the two brothers Castor and Pollux, Neptune, and all the sea gods; insomuch that it was called the holy island f791 , and persons of other nations, and even of the greatest figure, were initiated into the mysteries of the Samothracians, which Pliny calls the most holy; for speaking of Venus, Potho, and Phaeton, adds, who are worshipped with the most holy ceremonies of Samothracia. The apostle did not stay to preach the Gospel in this place, nor do we read of its being preached here by him at any other time, or by any other, nor of any church in this place in after ages in ecclesiastical history. The apostle and his companions are said to come hither, with a straight course; not only because they might have a fair gale, which brought them at once hither; but because when they were over the Hellespont, this island lay directly in their way, in a straight line to Macedonia: and the next day to Neapolis ; the Alexandrian copy reads, the new city, as the word signifies; hence the Ethiopic version by way of interpretation renders it, the next day we came to the new city, the name of which is Neapolis: according to Ptolomy, it was a sea port of Edonis, a part of Macedonia, and was upon the borders of Thrace; it is now called Christopoli; and was not Neapolis in Campania, nor Sychem in Samaria, which is so called, but was at a great distance from either of these. Pliny places it in Thracia, as he also does Edonis, and even Philippi f793 . Jerom calls it a city of Caria, but wrongly: and though we have no account of the apostles preaching in this place, and of making converts, neither now nor at any other time; yet it appears even in after ages that here was a church in this place: in the sixth century the bishop of it was sent to the fifth Roman synod; and in the seventh century one Andreas was bishop of this place, who was in the sixth synod at Constantinople f795 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-15 - The removals of ministers, and the dispensing the means of grace by them, are in particular under Divine conduct and direction. We mus follow Providence: and whatever we seek to do, if that suffer us not we ought to submit and believe to be for the best. People greatly nee help for their souls, it is their duty to look out for it, and to invite those among them who can help them. And God's calls must be complied with readily. A solemn assembly the worshippers of God mus have, if possible, upon the sabbath day. If we have not synagogues, we must be thankful for more private places, and resort to them; no forsaking the assembling together, as our opportunities are. Among the hearers of Paul was a woman, named Lydia. She had an honest calling which the historian notices to her praise. Yet though she had a callin to mind, she found time to improve advantages for her soul. It will no excuse us from religious duties, to say, We have a trade to mind; for have not we also a God to serve, and souls to look after? Religion doe not call us from our business in the world, but directs us in it Pride, prejudice, and sin shut out the truths of God, till his grac makes way for them into the understanding and affections; and the Lor alone can open the heart to receive and believe his word. We mus believe in Jesus Christ; there is no coming to God as a Father, but by the Son as Mediator.
Greek Textus Receptus
αναχθεντες 321 5685 V-APP-NPM ουν 3767 CONJ απο 575 PREP της 3588 T-GSF τρωαδος 5174 N-GSF ευθυδρομησαμεν 2113 5656 V-AAI-1P εις 1519 PREP σαμοθρακην 4543 N-ASF τη 3588 T-DSF τε 5037 PRT επιουση 1966 5752 V-PXP-DSF εις 1519 PREP νεαπολιν 3496 N-ASF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
11. Came with a straight course (euqudromhsamen). Lit., we ran a straight course. A nautical term for sailing before the wind.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:11 {Setting sail} (anacqentes). Same word in #13:13 which see. {We made a straight course} (euqudromesamen). First aorist active indicative of compound verb euqudromew (in Philo) from adjective euqudromos (in Strabo), running a straight course (euqus, dromos). In the N.T. only here and #21:1. It is a nautical term for sailing before the wind. Luke has a true feeling for the sea. {To Samothrace} (eis samoqraiken). A small island in the Aegean about halfway between Troas and Neapolis. {The day following} (tei epiousei). Locative case of time with hemerai (day) to be supplied (#7:26; 20:15; 21:18; 23:11). With adverse winds it took five days to make the run of 125 miles (#20:6). {To Neapolis} (eis nean polin). To New Town (Newton, Naples, Neapolis). The port of Philippi ten miles distant, Thracian, but reckoned as Macedonian after Vespasian.
