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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_20:13-16
13But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board; for so he had arranged it, intending himself to go by land. 14And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15Sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos; and the day following we came to Miletus. 16For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
Act_20:13 "the ship" Paul's travel plans had to be changed because of a plot against his life, which had been planned to occur at sea (cf. Act_20:3). Perhaps Paul wanted to know who was on this ship before he boarded. Paul went overland from Troas to Assos, where he would be picked up by the ship from Troas. All of the people mentioned in Act_20:4 were already on this ship.
Act_20:14 "came to Mitylene" This is the chief city of the island of Lesbos. It is the largest island off the coast of Asia Minor (western Turkey).
Act_20:15-16 It is amazing how much Luke knew about sailing. He uses many technical sailing terms in his accounts ("we" sections) of Acts. Several of the "we" sections involve sea travel. Obviously he was a well educated man who traveled extensively.
Act_20:15 "Chios" This is another island in the Aegean Sea. It is a long, narrow island very near the coast.
▣ "Samos" This is yet another island off the west coast of Asia Minor, close to Ephesus.
▣ "Miletus" This was once a large and important maritime city on the southern coast of Ephesus at the mouth of the Maeander River. Paul landed here and sent for the church leaders at Ephesus. It was about a thirty-mile trip.
Act_20:16 "Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus" This seems to imply that Paul had some volitional control over the ship. If so, then either (1) they had hired a ship all to themselves or (2) they picked a ship that did not stop at Ephesus.
▣ "if" This is a fourth class conditional (ei with optative mood), which expresses a wish.
▣ "Pentecost" This was the Jewish feast fifty days after Passover. Paul missed Passover Feast because of Act_20:3.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO Act_20:17 to Act_21:16
A. There is an element of self defense in this passage, as if some were continuing to attack Paul personally (cf. Act_20:33).
B. This is the only example in Acts of Paul preaching to believers. In Act_13:16 ff he is addressing Jews, while in Act_14:15 ff; Act_17:22 ff he is addressing pagan Greeks.
C. This message has many parallels to Paul's letters, as one would expect. Paul's unique vocabulary is readily reflected in this farewell admonition. This shows Luke's faithfulness in recording the testimonies of others.