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Act_28:11-15
Act_28:12-14. The voyage was continued until Syracuse was reached; this city was situated on the south-east coast of Sicily, about eighty miles distant from Malta in a north-easterly direction. The next point was Rhegium, in southern Italy, opposite to the north-eastern angle of Sicily; the vessel at length reached Puteoli, the modern Pozzuoli, about seven miles west of Naples. It had, without doubt, been detained three days at Syracuse for commercial purposes.—The meaning of ðåñéåëèåῖí is doubtful. The word can in no case be understood as stating that the vessel had sailed entirely around Sicily (de Wette); it may, with greater probability mean that, on account of unfavorable winds, the vessel had repeatedly been compelled for short distances to take a circuitous route. [Mr. Howson remarks in a note (Conyb. and H. Vol. II., p. 358): “Mr. Smith’s view that ðåñéåëèüíôåò means simply ‘beating’ is more likely to be correct than that of Mr. Lewin, who supposes that ‘as the wind was westerly, and they were under shelter of the high mountainous range of Etna on their left, they were obliged to stand out to sea in order to fill their sails, and so come to Rhegium by a circuitous sweep.’ ”—Tr.]. The rapid passage from Reggio [the modern name of Rhegium] to Pozzuoli—a distance of 182 miles—in less than two days may be explained by the circumstance that a favorable wind (the south wind, Act_28:13) attended the vessel. The port of Puteoli was, during the centuries which immediately preceded and followed the birth of Christ, the most important of all those found on the coast of Lower Italy, and was especially frequented by vessels from the East. Those that brought grain from Egypt, generally discharged their cargoes at that port. Travellers from Syria also usually disembarked at the same point, and thence proceeded to Rome by land; see Josephus, Antiq. xvii. 12. 1, xviii. 7. 2, where, however, Josephus employs the Greek name Dikæarchia [ Äéêáßáñ÷åéá ].
Act_28:15. And so we went toward [thus we came to] Rome, that is, without delaying in any spot, after leaving Puteoli. This remark is made proleptically; the supplementary verse (Act_28:15) adds that, on the road, Paul had been met and saluted by Christians who came from Rome. This occurred both at Appii Forum, and at Tres Tabernæ. The former was a small town, about forty-three Roman miles from the city, on the Via Appia, which led from Rome to Capua, and which was named after Appius Claudius Caecus, who had constructed it; the town was situated on the northern border of the Pontine Marshes. [“Cicero mentions both in the letters to Atticus, II. Acts 11 : ‘Ab Appii Foro hora quarta: dederam aliam paullo ante Tribus Tabernis.’ (Alf.).—Tr.]. Tres Tabernæ was a place of entertainment for travellers, about ten miles nearer to Rome than Appii Forum. As Paul had tarried seven days in Puteoli, the Christians of this place no doubt at an early period communicated the intelligence of his arrival to those at Rome, so that it was possible for some of the latter to go forward and meet him at a distance of thirty Roman miles from the city, and for others to proceed even forty miles, in order to welcome him. [Took courage; èÜñóïò . “Both encouragement as to his own arrival, as a prisoner, in the vast metropolis,—in seeing such affection, to which he was of all men most sensible; and encouragement as to his great work so long contemplated, and now about to commence in Rome,—in seeing so promising a beginning for him to build on.” (Alf.)—Tr.]
Act_28:13. And from thence … to Rhegium.—The narrative before us states that the apostle visited many places, but does not add that a special blessing attended these visits. He was a prisoner, could not choose his own course, humbly submitted to the Lord, and waited for his instructions. Nevertheless, the divine promise was fulfilled: “When this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.” Eze_33:33. This was the case with Melita; and the other places also, which are here mentioned, afterwards received the Gospel. We have, therefore, no reason to despond, if the divine blessing does not immediately become visible in every spot in which the Lord employs us. Let us submit the result of our labors to Him; for although the seed may be buried for a season, the fruit will in due time appear. Many a servant of Jesus descends into the grave, and the seed which he had sown by his preaching, his tears, and his sufferings, begins to come forth and flourish only after his departure. (Ap. Past.).
Act_28:14. Where we found brethren.—The people of God are every where, although they may be concealed from public view. Let no one say: “I only am left.” 1Ki_19:14-18. (Starke).—Christians are spiritual brethren, whom the same Father begat with the word of truth [Jam_1:18]; they have the same brother—Christ [Heb_2:11], and they look for the same inheritance, Rom_8:16. Hence we should all regard each other with brotherly love.—(id.).—The hearts of Luke and Paul were filled with joy, when they found brethren at Puteoli. The honors which were paid to them at Melita were of little account, but when they met with children of God, they deemed that they had found a rich treasure. It is a sure sign that our hearts possess the true power of faith, when we love the brethren, desire communion with them, and are strengthened by their faith. Paul gained new courage, when, after having been long surrounded by rude [heathen] seamen, he again met with brethren; he remained seven days with them, no doubt in order that he might pass a Sunday with them, proclaim the word of God, and commemorate the Lord’s death in the Holy Supper, in company with them. May God, by His Holy Spirit, maintain in us such genuine brotherly love. (Ap. Past.).—And so we went toward Rome.—No doubt the apostle and his companions surveyed that pagan imperial city with deep emotion and anxious expectations, when its lofty buildings met their view. But the heart of the Roman emperor in his palace would have also been deeply moved, if he could have had a presentiment that at this moment a power, in the servile form of a Jewish prisoner, was entering by the gates, before which the Roman Empire, and, indeed, the whole heathen world, would sink into the dust. That was a far more decisive moment than when, on a former occasion, the cry was heard; Hannibal ante portas!
Act_28:15. From thence … the brethren … came to meet us.—The brethren of Rome, who thus cheered the heart of Paul by coming to meet him, displayed by that act a considerate love, which was itself one of the fruits of the Epistle that had previously been directed to them. We can thus perform many an act, which, without occasioning expense, will comfort and soothe the hearts of others during the wearisome journey of life. (Rieger).—Whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.—The Spirit of God here indicates, that although Paul had hitherto furnished so many proofs of the power of his faith, he nevertheless continued to be a feeble human being. Now, when he was so near the city, his feelings may have somewhat resembled those of a delinquent who is approaching the place of execution. What thoughts and fears he may have entertained! What traces of a weak faith may have then appeared! Hence God strengthened and encouraged him anew through the believers at Rome. (Ap. Past.). This entrance of Paul into the city, in order to appear as an accused person before the imperial tribunal, after having been welcomed and conducted by his friends, naturally reminds us of Luther’s entrance into the city of Worms, where he, too, was to appear before the emperor [in the year 1521]. (Williger).
ON THE WHOLE SECTION.
The blessings of Christian fellowship, Act_28:14-15. (Lisco).
Christianity forms mankind into one family of God: I. It was the original purpose, at the creation, that mankind should constitute one family; II. Through sin, enmity entered into the world; III. Through Christ, peace is to be restored to the earth. (id.).
‘Here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come’ [Heb_13:14]. (id.).
Paul before the gates of Rome: I. As a homeless stranger—and yet welcomed by loving brethren; II. As an evil-doer in bonds—and yet bearing in his heart the gracious testimony of God; III. As a man appointed unto death (for, at an earlier or later period, he was to surrender his life within those walls), —and yet, as a conqueror, triumphantly planting the banner of the cross of Christ in the very citadel of heathenism.
The arrival of Paul at Rome—the deep import of the event: I. With respect to the apostle; (a) the mission of his life is accomplished; (b) the mark toward which he pressed, is fixed [Php_3:14]. II. With respect to the heathen world; (a) the day of its gracious visitation arrives; (b) but also the day of the departure of its glory. III. With respect to Judaism; (a) the apostle of the Gentiles turns to his own people in Rome, for the last time; (b) the kingdom now passes over to the Gentiles [Act_28:28], and Rome takes the place of Jerusalem. IV. With respect to Christianity; (a) bloody contests await it in Rome; (b) but also most glorious victories.
Paul’s entrance into Rome, and Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem: I. Each enters in the form of a servant; II. Each is received with joyful acclamations [Mat_21:9]; III. Each subsequently suffer a violent death.
The fraternal reception of the apostle Paul at Rome, a beautiful illustration of the communion of saints: I. It unites the children of God; II. It subdues the kingdoms of the world; III. It proclaims the honor of the Lord.
[Act_28:14-15. Friends and enemies: I. We meet with both in the world; (a) such was the experience of the servants of God mentioned in the Scriptures; (b) such is still the experience of His servants. II. The causes which attract the friendship or enmity of others; (a) sometimes our own personal acts; (b) sometimes the peculiar circumstances in which we are placed. III. The conduct which the Christian observes; (a) towards friends; (b) towards enemies. IV. The lessons which the subject teaches; (a) the disordered state of the world which sin has produced; (b) the perfect peace which true faith in Christ would produce in the world.—Tr.].
Footnotes:
Act_28:12. [Instead of the accusative plur. of text. rec., Lach. reads ἡìἐñáéò ôñéóßí , on the authority of B. Other editors generally adhere to the reading of the text. rec., which also Cod. Sin. sustains.—Tr.]
Act_28:14. [Instead of ἐð ʼ áὐôïéò of text. rec., with G. H., Lach., Tisch. and Born. read ðáῤ áὐô ., with A. B., and also Cod. Sin. Alf., who retains the former reading, regards the latter as a “correction to the more usual expression.”—Tr.]
Act_28:15. [Instead of ἐîῆëèïí of text. rec., with G. H., Lach, and Tisch. read ἦëèïí . Alf. retains the compound. A. exhibits ἦëèïí ; B. and also Cod. Sin. read ἦëèáí ; for the latter form see Winer, § 13.1.a.—Tr.]