Acts 20:13
And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.
A plot against his life was discovered, and instead of sailing directly for Palestine he turned back by way of Macedonia, abandoning hope of reaching Jerusalem for Passover and aiming instead to arrive by Pentecost. The Jerusalem visit he still had in view was one he had hoped to make before Passover, so that he could meet those gathering for the feast, carry aid collected from Gentile churches for the poor believers in Judea, and strengthen unity between Jewish and Gentile believers. His companions sailed ahead from Troas toward Assos, while Paul, as he himself had arranged, went on foot by the shorter land route to meet them at Assos, making that walk alone. That solitary land journey gave him time for meditation, prayer, reflection, and communion with God as he weighed the dangers of going to Jerusalem and his coming visit there, the attitude of the Jerusalem church toward him and his work, and the needs of the churches and of the gospel in other fields, seeking God for strength and guidance.