Acts 28:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This expression of love and reverence from the Roman Christians deeply moved the great apostle. It stirred joyful thanksgiving to God in his soul and encouraged him. His spirit was not at rest as he now approached, in chains, the capital of the pagan world then known.

He had long desired to see Rome and to be there as a witness of Christ. Yet the condition of imprisonment in which he now found himself gave rise to fear in him. He feared that this condition might hinder the success of the preaching of the Gospel.

The word of the Cross was often itself foolishness to the Gentiles. Now, in addition, this word had to be proclaimed in the capital of the world, the center of pagan religion, learning, and civilization. It had to be proclaimed by a man who was not only obscure, but even a prisoner.

In such circumstances the apostle could fear for his position in Rome as an apostle, even among the Christians there. Most of them did not know him personally and had not learned, through personal dealings with him, to honor him as an apostle of Christ.

It is true that they had already read the apostle's epistle to them, which preceded his personal arrival in Rome. Yet there was still room for doubt whether this epistle had produced the proper effect on its readers. And so, as he approached Rome in this state of soul, the apostle received a testimony of love and reverence from the Roman Christians. This greatly encouraged his spirit.

It is therefore natural that, when he saw this small crowd of Christians, he thanked God and took courage from such proof of their love. Nothing encouraged and inspired him so much as human sympathy. The greeting from these brethren must have lit his approach to the city with a happy omen.

He had long desired to see that city. Yet he now entered it under much sadder circumstances than he could ever have expected.

The Forum of Appius was a small town, forty-three Roman miles, about sixty versts, from Rome. It lay on the road leading from Rome to Capua and was named after Appius Claudius, who had built it. The Three Taverns was the name of a place with inns for travelers on the same road. It was ten miles, about fifteen versts, from the Forum of Appius and nearer to Rome.

Thus the Roman Christians who went to meet Paul and his companions divided into two groups. One stopped at the Three Taverns and waited there for the apostle. The other went farther to meet him, as far as the Forum of Appius.

Seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. Rome, that capital of the world, had long stood before Paul's eyes as the desired goal of his apostolic labor (Acts 19:21; Acts 23:11; Rom 1:9 and following). And now he was approaching it, but as a prisoner.

How natural it was, in such a condition, that at the sight of the brethren who had come from that very Rome to meet him, bearing witness to their love and respect, he was filled with thanksgiving to God. Perhaps he feared that his imprisonment would trouble the Roman brethren and hinder his apostolic labor in the capital of the world.

Yet these brethren were already extending their love to him before he entered the city. The apostle took courage, seeing in this a good pledge that his imprisonment would not be a great obstacle to his labor there. "See how he too experienced a certain human feeling in this. He who had performed so many miracles took courage at the sight of the brethren. From this we see that, in human fashion, he received both consolations and sorrows" (Chrysostom).

Rome, the capital of the world, had long stood before Paul's eyes as the desired goal of his apostolic labor (see Acts 10:21; Rom 1:9). And now he was approaching it, but as a prisoner. How natural it was, in such a condition, that he was filled with thanksgiving to God.

The Roman Christians who went to meet Paul divided into two groups. One stopped at the Three Taverns, about forty-five versts from Rome, and waited there for the apostle. The other went farther, another sixteen versts, to the Forum of Appius. This was a small town on the road to Capua, named after its builder, Appius Claudius.

According to blessed Theophylact, the writer here names certain places before Rome. The first, the Forum of Appius, is where the statue of Appius stood. By taverns he means inns or drinking houses, so called in Roman usage.

Along the Appian Way triumphators from the East usually entered Rome. Yet no triumphator won so splendid a victory that its influence on the world could compare with the victory of Paul's preaching. Worn and weak, he entered Rome and became there such a spiritual warrior that he gained glory on earth and eternity in heaven.

Along the Appian Way into Rome stand the ancient Christian burial places, the catacombs, crowned with spacious churches. Not far away is also the old church of Saint Paul.