Acts 28:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the spring, when free navigation by sea had opened, Paul and his companions landed on the shores of Italy at the place called Puteoli. There he found brethren, stayed about a week, and set out for Rome. There the believers met him as they came out from the city, at the Three Taverns.

At the beginning of his stay, and afterward as well, Paul enjoyed freedom. Yet a soldier lived with him and guarded him. He was not in prison, but rented a house and could have free access to everyone. He could also send letters wherever he wished. Taking advantage of these circumstances, Paul, three days after his arrival, assembled the Jews. As in other cities, so here also he wished to begin his preaching with the Jews.

On Malta, Paul with his companions and the other prisoners remained three months, until the stormy season of autumn and the beginning of winter had ended. After sailing became safe, they were put on an Alexandrian ship called the Dioscuri. This was the name of two mythological heroes known in antiquity, the twins Castor and Pollux. On the ship there was either the inscription “Dioscuri” or an image of these heroes. The ship had wintered on the island of Malta. They arrived at Syracuse, a maritime city on the southeastern shore of Sicily. At Syracuse, probably for its own needs, the ship stayed three days. Then it departed and arrived at Rhegium, now Reggio, in southern Italy, opposite the northeastern corner of Sicily.

With the opening of navigation, the centurion Julius placed his prisoners on another Alexandrian ship, the Dioscuri, which also had wintered on the island of Melita and was now heading for Rome. At the beginning of February the ship first made for Syracuse, where it remained three days. Then it sailed to Rhegium, already on the Italian side of the Strait of Messina. From there, with a favorable following wind, the ship quickly reached Puteoli, one of the chief grain-trading ports of Italy. The prisoners had to leave it and continue by land. In such a busy port there proved to be several Christians, who joyfully met the apostle. At their request he spent a week with them. This also serves as clear proof of the centurion’s extraordinary kindness toward the great prisoner. “And afterward we went to Rome.”

The capital of the world was now not far from there, only about two hundred versts.

From there to Rhegium, now Reggio, in southern Italy, opposite Messina, at the northeastern corner of Sicily. From there, with a favorable following wind, they quickly arrived, on the very next day, at Puteoli. This is now Pozzuoli, a maritime city one mile from Naples. The harbor of Puteoli at that time was one of the most important on the western coast of Italy, especially for trade with the East. Merchant ships usually unloaded here, and from there goods were sent by land to the capital of the world of that time, Rome. Here Julius landed his prisoners and the escort, so that from there they might set out for Rome by land.

The journey from Malta to Rome was fairly swift and safe, helped especially by a favorable wind. There was a stop of three days at Syracuse, one day at Rhegium, and seven days at Puteoli, at the special request of the Christians there.

Concerning the ship's name, the Dioscuri, blessed Theophylact says: "Almost always, especially on Alexandrian ships, it was customary to place such images near the prow, on the right and on the left. Since, under the idolatry then prevailing, the Dioscuri were probably depicted on this ship, one may conclude that its shipmaster was a foreigner and an idolater." "The Dioscuri were two well-known mythological heroes of antiquity, the twins Castor and Pollux. The ancients regarded them as patrons of seafaring and protectors from disasters at sea."