Acts 28:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.

NIV: There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.

NASB: There we found some brothers and sisters, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and that is how we came to Rome.

CSB: There we found brothers and sisters and were invited to stay a week with them. And so we came to Rome.

NLT: There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.

KJV: Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

NKJV: where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.

Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus have landed in Puteoli—modern-day Pozzuoli—on the west coast of Italy, not far from Mt. Vesuvius. Paul, and presumably Aristarchus, are there to have their cases tried before Caesar (Acts 25:10–12; Colossians 4:10). Luke had followed Paul to Jerusalem two years prior and has accompanied him to Rome.

Paul has never been to Rome, although he has wanted to visit for a long time (Romans 1:11–13; 15:22–23). He wrote the book of Romans so the believers there would have sound theology to study and live out until he could be there in person. His extended personal greetings in Romans 16 added legitimacy to his ministry through witnesses in the Roman church. The book was likely written in AD 56–58, possibly from Corinth, before he went to Jerusalem where he was soon arrested (Romans 15:24–28; Acts 21); Phoebe of Romans 16:1 was from Cenchreae, one of Corinth's ports.

Luke does not elaborate as to whom the "brothers" are. Puteoli had the second-oldest settlement of Jews after Rome, but the Jews had been driven out of Rome in AD 49, which is how Paul met Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth (Acts 18:2). Apparently, they have returned since they're mentioned in Romans 16:3–4. All this is before AD 64 when Rome burned and Nero persecuted Jews and Christians.

"And so we came to Rome" means "in this manner;" that is, with friends.

Acts 28:11–16 records the final steps of Paul's arduous journey to Rome. He, Aristarchus, and Luke survived a fierce tempest and a shipwreck before spending three months in the care of the people of Malta (Acts 27:1—28:10). Now Paul and his friends board another ship that takes them to Puteoli, Italy. There, Christ-followers provide a warm welcome. As they walk toward Rome, more believers meet them and give them encouragement for the last few miles. Paul spends two years in Rome, under house arrest, but free to teach anyone who will listen about Jesus (Acts 28:30–31).

Acts 28 records Paul's three-month stay on the island of Malta and two-year house arrest in Rome. On Malta, God empowers Paul to perform healing miracles which endear him to the locals. Once he reaches the shores of Italy, many other believers accompany him on his last leg to Rome. In Rome, he finds the Jews just as accepting of Jesus as elsewhere; some believe, but many don't. Paul reaffirms his mission to the Gentiles and spends his time preaching while under house arrest.

Acts 28 is the end of Luke's story of the witness of Jesus' story (Acts 1:8). After his wrongful imprisonment in Caesarea Maritima, Paul appealed his case to Caesar (Acts 25:1–12). He, Aristarchus, and Luke survived a raging winter storm before finally reaching Rome (Acts 27). Again under house arrest, Paul is able to share Jesus' offer of forgiveness with any who wish to visit. While there, he writes the letters Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. After two years, Paul is released; tradition says he takes one more evangelistic tour before being arrested and eventually martyred around AD 67.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.