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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_28:11-15
11At the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had the Twin Brothers for its figurehead. 12After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14There we found some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome. 15And the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
Act_28:11 "an Alexandrian ship" This was probably another large grain ship going to the Bay of Naples from Egypt (cf. Act_27:6; Act_27:38).
▣ "ship which had wintered at the island" The Mediterranean Sea was too stormy to navigate during the winter months. The shipping lanes opened back up in late February or March.
▣ "the Twin Brothers for its figurehead" This refers to Zeus' twin sons, Caster and Pollox. They were the patrons of sailors in the Roman pantheon. Poseidon had given them power and control over wind, waves, and storms. Their special constellation was Gemini. Apparently there was a carving of them on the bow, two little elf-like men.
Act_28:12 "Syracuse" This was the principal city of Sicily located on the eastern coast. This port was eighty miles north of Malta.
Act_28:13 "sailed around" The ancient uncial manuscripts à (Siniaticus), and B (Vaticanus) have "weighing anchor," which was a technical sailing term (so characteristic of Luke), but other ancient manuscripts P74, à c, and A have "passing by," like Act_16:8.
▣ "Rhegium" This is the city at the southwestern tip of Italy.
▣ "Puteoli" This was the grain importing center for Rome in the Bay of Naples. They traveled about 180 miles in two days.
Act_28:14 "There we found some brethren" There were existing Christian congregations in Italy (cf. Act_28:15) and Rome who embraced Paul.
Act_28:15 "Market of Appius" This was the end of the barge trip from the south of Italy and the beginning of the great Roman highway called the Appian Way. It was forty-three miles to Rome.
▣ "Three Inns" This was a rest stop about thirty-three miles from Rome.
▣ "Paul. . .took courage" Paul apparently had become discouraged again. He seems to have been prone to this. Jesus appeared to him personally several times to encourage him.