Acts 28:15

οἱ�, the brethren having heard of us. Between Puteoli and Rome there was constant communication, and the seven days of the Apostle’s sojourn in the port were amply sufficient to make the whole Christian body in Rome aware of his arrival in Italy and of the time when he would set out towards the city.

ἦλθαν εἰς�, they came to meet us. Because the verb ἀπαντάω takes a dative after it, the same case stands after the noun. For examples cf. LXX. 2 Chronicles 15:2, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς�. Also 2 Chronicles 20:18; Judges 6:35; Judges 20:25; 1 Samuel 13:10, &c. If it were quite certain that the sixteenth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans was part of the letter which was sent to that Church we might make sure of the names of some who would be of the party which started from Rome to welcome St Paul on his arrival in Italy. Aquila and Priscilla, Epænetus; Andronicus and Junias, who are both spoken of as having been formerly fellow-prisoners with the Apostle; Rufus, Herodion and Apelles, who are mentioned there in terms of the greatest affection, could hardly have failed to be among the company at Appii Forum. But the whole closing chapter of the Epistle to the Romans appears to apply better to some Asiatic Church, probably Ephesus, than to Rome, and so it is unsafe to conclude that the Christians there mentioned were those who now met St Paul and cheered him on his way.

Perhaps however when we remember the Greek influence which prevailed in the early centuries of the Christian era at Rome we need not marvel at the Greek names we meet with in this xvith chapter. The first Bishops of Rome have nearly all Greek names, and even Clemens Romanus wrote in Greek, and not in Latin.

ἄχρι Ἀππίου φόρου, as far as Appii Forum, i.e. the Market of Appius. The name ‘Forum’ seems to have been given by the Romans to places such as we should now call borough-towns. The town here mentioned was situated on the Appian Way, the great road from Rome to Brundusium. Both road and town owed their name to the famous Appius Claudius, the Roman Censor, and this town is mentioned by Horace as crowded with sailors, and abounding in tavern-keepers of bad character (Sat. I. 5. 4). It was distant rather more than forty miles from Rome, and as the Appian Way was only one of two ways by which travellers could go from Appii Forum to the Imperial City, it was natural that the deputation from Rome should halt here and wait for the Apostle’s arrival.

καὶ Τριῶν ταβερνῶν, and the three Taverns. The name ‘Tabernæ’ had in Latin a much wider signification than the English ‘Taverns’ and was applied to any shop whatever, not as the English word to one where refreshments are sold. The site of this place has not been identified, but it is said to have been about ten miles nearer to Rome than Appii Forum: and the body of Christians who came as far as this had perhaps set out from Rome later than their brethren. The whole distance from Puteoli to Rome was about 140 miles. ‘Tres Tabernæ’ is placed 33 miles from Rome.

εὐχαριστήσας τῷ θεῷ ἔλαβε θάρσος, he thanked God and took courage. When thinking and writing about his coming to Rome, Paul had never thought that his first visit to it would be as a prisoner. He had hoped (Romans 1:11-12) to come as the bearer of some spiritual blessing, and to be comforted himself by the faith of the Roman brethren. How different was the event from what he had pictured. But yet here were some of the brethren, and their faith and love were made manifest by their journey to meet the Apostle, and no doubt they brought with them the salutations of all the Church. This was somewhat to be thankful for. The prisoner would not be without sympathy, and the spiritual gift might be imparted even though Paul was no longer free. The cause of Christ was advancing; and cheered by the evidence of this the Apostle’s heart revived.