Acts 16:9-10 (NKJV)
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night.  A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”  Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. 

All of us who walk with Christ will have our Troas moments; more than likely more than one.  The Apostle Paul, Silas, Luke (the author of Acts), Timothy and others found themselves on the shores of Troas during Paul’s second mission trip.  They were instructed by the Holy Spirit not to travel north or south.  They were not going to backtrack and return to Antioch of Syria.  There was only one remaining direction to travel. Similar to Moses and the Red Sea, if they were to advance the gospel, they were to cross the Aegean Sea.  Scripture does not tell us how long they camped at Troas, but it does reveal the vision.  On full display was the obedience of these missionaries who would literally change the world. 

Had they not traveled the Aegean Sea to Macedonia, Paul and Silas would have never been beaten with rods and thrown into prison (Acts 16:22-23).  They would have never experienced an earthquake (Acts 16:26).  Without Paul and Silas the jailer would have committed suicide (Acts 16:27-29).  The keeper of the prison and his entire household, more than likely, would have never received the Lord or baptism (Acts 16:33).  Paul and Silas would have never fled an angry mob in Thessalonica (Acts 17:10).  Nor would they have been exposed to the Bereans and their devout practices (Acts 17:10-13).  Paul would have never fled alone by ship to Athens to be ridiculed by those dwelling in a land of false idols (Acts 17:15-33).  From Corinth of the region of Achaia, Paul would have never received news that the Thessalonians, the very group that previously ran him out of town, would become followers of the Lord and role models to all of Macedonia and Achaia (1 Thess. 1:6-8).  All of this would have been missed without obedience. 

My recent Troas moment was Debipur Island in the state of West Bengal, India.  On a recent journey to India, we were called by the Lord to cross over by boat and share the gospel on this remote island.  If you or I do not obey the Lord and go to our respective Macedonias, who will?  It is our honor and duty to follow the Lord’s commands!

Had we not gone, 18 people would not have received Christ as Lord in the middle of a field where church was held.  We would not have visited a pastor and an empty lot of land where a church once stood before being destroyed by a cyclone in the summer of 2024.  This church will now be rebuilt, stronger than before.  We would have never seen the beautiful people of this island filled with potential hopes and dreams that they cannot see themselves; hopes and dreams that only Christ can give.  

When your call to Macedonia is upon you; your Troas moment; your Debipur Island…seize the day!  Be obedient!  Follow the Lord’s commands!  Eternal life is literally at stake and God desires to use you to populate heaven!

Copyright 2025 Michael Callahan Ministries, LLC