Acts 28:11 - Meaning and Application

Here we see Paul’s journey to Rome moving forward, and at last his arrival there. The trip had been rough and dangerous until now, and he had only narrowly escaped with his life. But after a storm comes calm, and the second half of the voyage was easy and quiet. Through many hazards and events we press on toward Latium, and, more importantly, toward heaven. God will set an end to these things in his time.

First, they leave Malta. That island had been a kind shelter for them, but it was not their home. When they had been refreshed there, they had to set sail again. The troubles and discouragements we meet in the Christian life must not keep us from moving ahead.

Luke notes the time of their departure, after three months, the three winter months. It was better to stay put, even if they had to bear the cost, than to sail when the season was dangerous. Paul had warned them not to risk the sea in winter, and they had ignored him. Now they had learned the truth through hardship and danger, so they no longer needed the warning. Their lesson did them good, though it cost them dearly. Experience is called the teacher of fools, because fools will not learn until experience forces the lesson on them.

Luke also notes the ship they took. It was an Alexandrian ship, the same kind as the one that had been wrecked earlier (Acts 27:6). This ship had spent the winter on the island and remained safe. See how different the outcomes of human plans can be in this world. Here were two ships, both from Alexandria and both bound for Italy. Both were driven onto the same island, yet one was wrecked and the other was saved. Such things happen often. At times, God prospers people in business to encourage diligence in ordinary work. At other times, he crosses their plans to warn them not to set their hearts on this world. In this way, experiences vary, and we learn both how to be in need and how to have plenty.

The historian also mentions the ship’s sign, which likely gave it its name, Castor and Pollux. These were small and foolish pagan gods, ones the poets said watched over storms and protected sailors, so their images were painted or carved on the ship’s front. I think Luke mentions this mostly to make the story clearer, since the ship was well known by that name among those who traded between Egypt and Italy. Dr. Lightfoot thinks Luke may also be hinting at the sailors’ superstition, since they likely hoped this badge would bring them better sailing than before.

Second, they land in or near Italy and continue toward Rome. They first stop at Syracuse in Sicily, the chief city of that island. They stay there three days, likely because they had goods to unload or merchandise to handle, since this seems to have been a trading voyage. Paul likely enjoyed seeing places he had often heard about and wanted to visit, especially Syracuse, an ancient and well-known city. Yet it seems there were no Christians there.

From Syracuse they go to Rhegium, a city in Italy, across from Messina in Sicily, in the area of Calabria or Naples. There they stay one day. Roman Catholic legends tell a very formal story about Paul preaching there, fish gathering on the shore to hear him, and him setting a stone pillar on fire with a candle to prove his message true. They also say many people were baptized and that he appointed Stephen, one of his companions on the voyage, as bishop. But all this, they claim, happened in one day, while it does not even seem that they went ashore, only that they anchored in the roadstead.

From Rhegium they come to Puteoli, a seaport not far from Naples, now called Pozzuoli. The ship from Alexandria was headed for that port, so Paul and the others who were going to Rome were put ashore there and traveled the rest of the way by land. At Puteoli they found brothers, Christians. We are not told who first brought the knowledge of Christ there, but it was there, showing how widely the gospel spreads. God has many who serve and worship him in places where we would least expect to find them.

Notice two things. Even though there were likely only a few believers in Puteoli, Paul found them, or they found him. They likely heard he had arrived, or he asked after them, but they came together at once. Christians should seek one another out and keep fellowship with each other, like people from the same country meeting in a foreign land. The believers there asked Paul and his companions to stay seven days, meaning at least one Lord’s Day with them, so he could help with their public worship. They did not know whether they would ever see Paul again, so they wanted at least a sermon or two from him. Paul was glad to allow them that much time, and the centurion in charge of him may have stayed a week there too, perhaps because he had business or friends in Puteoli.

From Puteoli they went on toward Rome. We are not told whether they traveled on foot or rode animals provided for them, as in Acts 23:24, but Rome was their destination, and this was their final stage.

Third, we see the welcome the Christians in Rome gave to Paul. It is likely that the believers in Puteoli sent word to them as soon as Paul arrived, telling them how long he planned to stay and when he would continue to Rome. That gave them time to plan this meeting. They had heard much about Paul’s name, the way God had used him, the great work he had done for Christ’s kingdom, and how many souls he had brought to faith and maturity. They had also heard of his sufferings and how God had upheld him through them. So they not only wanted to see him, but felt bound to show him great honor, as a powerful defender of Christ’s cause.

Paul had written to them before in a long and excellent letter, the Epistle to the Romans, in which he had shown great affection and given them much helpful teaching. They now repay him with this honor. They go out to meet him and welcome him with public respect, almost as ambassadors or judges might make a formal entrance, though Paul came as a prisoner. Some of them went as far as Appii Forum, about fifty-one miles from Rome. Others went to the Three Taverns, about twenty-eight miles from Rome, though some count it thirty-three.

They should be praised for this, because they were so far from being ashamed of Paul, or afraid to acknowledge him because he was a prisoner, that they honored him all the more for that very reason. They were careful to show him respect. This is a reminder that faithful people should not be treated as less worthy when they suffer.

Paul took great comfort in this. As he drew near to Rome, and perhaps heard at Puteoli what kind of man the emperor Nero had become, he may have felt some sadness about his appeal to Caesar and what would happen next. He was coming to Rome, a city he had never visited, where he knew few people and few knew him. He could not tell what trials might meet him there, so his spirits began to sink until these believers from Rome came out to greet him.

When he saw them, he thanked God. We may suppose he also thanked them many times for their kindness, but he went beyond that and gave the glory to God. If our friends are kind to us, it is God who makes them so, putting it into their hearts and giving them the means to act that way. We should honor him for it. Paul had already thanked God for the Christians at Rome before he had ever seen them, based on what he had heard about them (Romans 1:8). Now that he saw them for himself, he thanked God again, especially for the strong success of the gospel in Rome, the capital of the empire.

He also took courage. Their welcome lifted his heart, refreshed him, and drove away his gloom. He could now enter Rome as a prisoner, but with as much cheer as he once entered Jerusalem while free. He knew there were people there who loved and valued him, and with whom he could talk and seek counsel. That would make his imprisonment less heavy and would lessen the fear of standing before Nero. When travelers toward heaven meet fellow believers, their companions in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, they should take heart. When we see large and serious gatherings of Christians, we should not only thank God, but also be strengthened ourselves.

This is one reason why good ministers should be treated with respect, especially when they suffer and are made to seem low. Respect encourages them and makes both their suffering and their work easier. Yet it is worth noting that even though the Christians at Rome now showed Paul such honor, and he had hoped much from their support, they later failed him when he most needed them. He says, “At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me” (2 Timothy 4:16). They were willing to travel forty or fifty miles to meet Paul because it was pleasant and easy. But when it meant risking the emperor’s displeasure or upsetting powerful people by standing with him, they backed away. They would rather ride out of town to avoid him than come forward to help him. This teaches us to stop trusting in people and to encourage ourselves in the Lord our God. The courage we draw from his promises will never fail us, though we may one day be ashamed of the confidence we took from human praise. Let God be true, and every man a liar.

Paul was finally brought to Rome, the end of his journey. Yet he was still a prisoner. He had long wanted to see Rome, but when he arrived, he was handed over, with the other prisoners, to the captain of the guard, and could see no more of the city than he allowed. Many powerful men had entered Rome in triumph, though they had been a curse to their generation. Here, a good man entered Rome in chains and was treated as a captive, though he was in truth the greatest blessing to his generation. That thought alone should make us lose all desire for this world’s honor.

Still, he was given some kindness. He remained a prisoner, but not in a common jail. Paul was allowed to live by himself in private lodging that his friends had arranged for him, with a soldier assigned to guard him. We may hope the soldier treated him well and allowed him as much freedom as possible within the limits of his custody, because it would have taken a very harsh spirit to deal poorly with such a courteous and helpful man as Paul. Living by himself, Paul could better enjoy his own company, the company of his friends, and the presence of God, than if he had been put with the other prisoners.

This should encourage God’s prisoners. He can give them favor in the eyes of those who hold them captive (Psalm 106:46), as he did for Joseph with his keeper (Genesis 39:21) and for Jehoiachin, king of Judah, with the king of Babylon (2 Kings 25:27-28). Even when God does not free his people at once, if he makes their bondage easier, or makes them patient under it, they still have reason to give thanks.