11 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. 15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
Commentary
Vs. 11 “After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island.”
For three months then the Apostle Paul and those who were shipwrecked with him stayed on the island of Malta until the winter storm season had past that they could again make their way to Rome. And so, it was that an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers (Castor and Pollux guardian “gods” of the seas) which had wintered there, when it was to depart that the Roman centurion guardian Paul placed him and those with him on it.
Vs. 12-14 12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, 14 where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.
From Malta their first port of call was Syracuse the capital of Sicily an island just off the southern tip of Italy where they stayed three days (vs. 12). From there they circled round the island (likely because of the winds) and reached Rhegium which is due north of it being located on the southwest corner of Italy at its very end or toe. From Rhegium they would’ve sailed between the island of Sicily and up the eastern Italian coastline until they reached Puteoli (which was just a little past Pompeii also being located on the coast, vs. 13). It was here then, roughly a hundred forty miles south of Rome, that they found brethren and were invited to stay with them seven days (vs. 14). From this point on then they will have to embark on a land journey by foot to Rome.
Vs. 15 “And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.”
Having left Puteoli (and having to leave the brethren there) it must have been quite disheartening for the Apostle Paul to carry on with this journey to Rome with basically himself and Luke and the Roman centurion and his forces guardian him. However, news of the Apostles arrival in Italy had reached brethren in Rome and so they came south as far as Appii Forum and the Three inns to meet them and provide whatever assistance that was needed them. Now the Scripture says that when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. For he now knew that the Lord was going to fulfill His Word and bring him safely to Rome.
Vs. 16 “Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.”
The Apostle Paul now arrives safely in Rome, and what a sight it must have been in ancient times! And how many mixed emotions must have the Apostle Paul had knowing that he was soon to face Nero, but also that he was now at the then capital of the world, where evangelistic opportunities would be endless if he could just clear his name and be rid of the false charges and accusations made about and against him. And so, it was when they arrived that the centurion delivered Paul along with the other prisoners to the captain of the guard there, who permitted Paul to dwell by himself with the solider who guarded him.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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