From Ephesus Paul set forth on another missionary tour, during which he hoped to visit once more the scenes of his former labors in Europe. Tarrying for a time at Troas, "to preach Christ's gospel," he found some who were ready to listen to his message. "A door was opened unto me of the Lord," he afterward declared of his labors in this place. But successful as were his efforts at Troas, he could not remain there long. "The care of all the churches," and particularly of the church at Corinth, rested heavily on his heart. He had hoped to meet Titus at Troas and to learn from him how the words of counsel and reproof sent to the Corinthian brethren had been received, but in this he was disappointed. "I had no rest in my spirit," he wrote concerning this experience, "because I found not Titus my brother." He therefore left Troas and crossed over to Macedonia, where, at Philippi he met Timothy. 324

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Fra Efesus drog Paulus ud på en ny missionsrejse, på hvilken han håbede endnu en gang at besøge skuepladsen for sin tidligere virksomhed i Europa. En tid ventede han i Troas "for at forkynde evangeliet om Kristus" og fandt dér nogle, der var rede til at høre hans forkyndelse. "Der var åbne døre for mit arbejde i Herren," sagde han senere om sit arbejde på dette sted. Men skønt hans virksomhed i Troas bar frugt, kunne han ikke blive der ret længe. Omsorgen for alle menighederne særlig for menigheden i Korint hvilede tungt på hans sind. Han havde håbet at træffe Titus i Troas og gennem ham få underretning om, hvordan det advarende og irettesættende brev, han havde sendt brødrene i Korint, var blevet modtaget, men heri blev han skuffet. "Dog fik jeg ingen ro i mit sind " skrev han herom, "fordi jeg ikke traf Titus, min broder." Derfor forlod han Troas og sejlede til Makedonien, hvor han i Filippi mødte Timoteus.