Times have changed. It took Paul and his company five days to travel from Philippi to Troas, a journey past some Greek islands that can now be negotiated by steamer in five hours.

Ancient Troas or Troy is well remembered because of Homer’s epic stories of its great early glory. Helen of Troy, the beautiful goddess who became an enchanting woman; the long Trojan wars; the episode of the Trojan Horse - what a wealth of mythology and history surrounded the group as they climbed from the ship up the hill and past the remnants of ancient walls. In Paul’s day, the city was already 3,000 years old. Nine times it had been destroyed and rebuilt, most recently by Julius Caesar. Even today parts of mighty walls still stand, walls 20 feet high and 15 feet thick.

The old city was a short distance inl…