Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 28:14
Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
14. where we found brethren ] i.e. there was a Christian Church established in Puteoli, and it was to such a degree well known, that the Apostle on his arrival at once learnt of its existence. From this we may gather that the Christians in Italy had already spread to a considerable extent, and hence it seems very probable that Christianity had been carried into that country from Jerusalem soon after the first Pentecostal preaching, at which time Roman visitors were present in the Holy City. Of course in such a place as Puteoli the Jews were likely to congregate, for the sake of trade, more than in many other places of Italy, and from their body the earliest converts to Christianity must have been made. But that, without any previous recorded visit of an Apostle, there should already be in Puteoli a numerous band of Christians is evidence of the zeal with which the new faith was being propagated. For it was now only about 28 years since the death of Jesus.
and were desired ] [ R. V. intreated]. The stronger word represents the original better. It has generally been thought that the duration of this stay was arranged so that the Apostle might be present with the Church in Puteoli at least over one Lord’s day. Thus the Christian congregation would be able to gather in its entirety, and to hear from the lips of the great Apostle of the Gentiles, the Gospel for which he was now “an ambassador in bonds.” We do not know whether any circumstances occurred to detain Julius in Puteoli, but if it were not so, it is a token of the great influence which St Paul had obtained over the centurion, that he was permitted to stay such a long time with his Christian friends, when the capital was so near at hand.
and so we went toward Rome ] The Greek is more nearly represented by the R. V. “and so we came to Rome.” The narrative at first speaks of the completed voyage, and then in Act 28:15 mention is made of some details which relate to the short land journey from Puteoli to the capital.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Brethren – Christian brethren. But by whom the gospel had been preached there is unknown.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. Where we found brethren] That is, Christians; for there had been many in Italy converted to the faith of Christ, some considerable time before this, as appears from St. Paul’s epistle to the Romans, written some years before this voyage.
We went toward Rome.] One of the most celebrated cities in the universe, the capital of Italy, and once of the whole world; situated on the river Tiber, 410 miles SSE. of Vienna; 600 SE. of Paris; 730 E. by N. of Madrid; 760 W. of Constantinople; and 780 SE. of London. Long. 12. 55′. E., lat. 41. 54′. N. This famous city was founded by Romulus, at the end of the seventh Olympiad, A.M. 3251; of the flood, 1595; and 753 years before the Christian aera. The history of this city must be sought for in works written expressly on the subject, of which there are many. Modern Rome is greatly inferior to ancient Rome in every respect. Its population, taken in 1709, amounted to 138,569 souls only; among whom were 40 bishops, 2686 priests, 3359 monks, 1814 nuns, 893 courtezans, between 8 and 9000 Jews, and 14 Moors. This city, which once tyrannized over the world by its arms, and over the whole Christian world by its popes, is now reduced to a very low state among the governments of Europe, by whom it is supported, for it has no power sufficient for its own defence.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Where we found brethren; Christians, as some think, for so they mutually called one another. But it is not so probable that any should profess Christianity so near unto Rome, and that it should be no more known or believed in Rome. Others therefore think that the apostle means Jews, whom he calls brethren (being, as himself, descended from Abraham); for so he calls the Jews he found at Rome, Act 28:17; who yet called the Christians a sect, adding, that it was every where spoken against, Act 28:22.
Rome is known to be the chief city in Italy, and to have been the empress of the world, and famous for the church to whom St. Paul wrote his Epistle, known by its inscription unto them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14, 15. Where we found brethrennot”the brethren” (see on Ac21:4), from which one would conclude they did not expect to findsuch [WEBSTER andWILKINSON].
and were desired“requested.”
to tarry with them sevendaysIf this request came from Julius, it may have proceededpartly from a wish to receive instructions from Rome and makearrangements for his journey thither, partly from a wish to gratifyPaul, as he seems studiously and increasingly to have done to thelast. One can hardly doubt that he was influenced by bothconsiderations. However this may be, the apostle had thus anopportunity of spending a Sabbath with the Christians of the place,all the more refreshing from his long privation in this respect, andas a seasoning for the unknown future that lay before him at themetropolis.
so we went toward Rome.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Where we found brethren,…. Christians; which is not to be wondered at, since it was a port much frequented, and where many came and went, of different countries and nations; particularly there were many Jews here, to whom the Gospel was first preached, and to some of them it was the power of God unto salvation in many places, and doubtless was so here: Josephus c speaks of Jews in this place, who were deceived by a false Alexander, who pretended to be the son of Herod, a prince of their nation. Patrobulus, the same with Patrobas in Ro 16:14; who is reckoned one of the seventy disciples, is said to be bishop of this place; [See comments on Lu 10:1]; though we have no account of its church state until the “fifth” century, when a bishop of the church at Puteoli is said to be in the council held at Ephesus against Eutyches, and sustained the place of Leo, pope of Rome: in the “sixth” century, a bishop of this church was in a council held at Rome, under Symmachus: in the seventh century, the bishop of Puteoli was in the sixth council at Constantinople d:
and were desired to tarry with them seven days; that is, the Christians at Puteoli desired the apostle, and those that were with him, to stay a week with them, that they might have the advantage of a day of public worship together, and might enjoy much of their Christian conversation; and accordingly they did stay that time, no doubt by the leave, and with the consent of Julius the centurion; and which shows, that he used the apostle with great civility and courteousness, and was very ready to grant him favours; if he was not in this voyage converted by him, which is not unlikely, considering the whole of his conduct:
and so we went toward Rome; after they had stayed seven days at Puteoli, they set forward on their journey to Rome; for from hence they went thither on foot, though they might have gone from hence to Rome by sea, as Apollonius Tyaneus did; [See comments on Ac 28:13]; and so likewise Titus the son of Vespasian, who went from Rhegium to Puteoli in a merchant ship, and from thence to Rome e; but it may be the ship unloaded here, and there was no other going for Rome at that time: Rome was the metropolis of Italy, the seat of the empire, and mistress of the whole world; it is so well known, as not to need describing: it was built on seven hills, and had its name either from Romulus the founder of it; or from the Greek word , which signifies “strength” f, from whence Romulus is supposed to have his name; with the Hebrews it has its name from its sublimity, height, and glory, from the word , which signifies to be high and exalted: some say it had its name from Roma, a daughter of Italus, who first laid the foundation of it, though Romulus and Remus brought it into the form of a city; it was built seven hundred and fifty years, and upwards, before the birth of Christ. The Jews make it to be of an earlier date; they say g, that at the time Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter, Gabriel descended and fixed a reed in the sea, and brought up clay, and with it was built the great city, which is Rome; and in another place h it is said, in the day in which Jeroboam set up the two calves, one at Dan, and the other at Bethel, was built a certain cottage, which is Italy of Greece, that is, Rome; for it is elsewhere observed i, Italy of Greece, this is the great city of Rome; and again k, on the day in which Jeroboam set up the two calves, Remus and Romulus came and built two cottages in Rome.
c Antiqu. l. 17. c. 14. sect. 1. d Magdeburg. Eccl. Hist. cent. 5. c. 2. p. 7. cent. 6. c. 2. p. 8. cent. 7. c. 2. p. 5. e Sueton. Vita Titi, c. 5. f Aur. Victor. Origo Gent. Rom. p. 233. g T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 21. 2. h T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 56. 2. i T. Bab. Megilia, fol. 6. 1. k T. Hicros. Avoda Zara, fol. 39. 3. Vid. Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 6. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Where we found brethren ( ). Possibly from Alexandria, but, as Blass observes, it is no more strange to find “brethren” in Christ in Puteoli when Paul arrives than in Rome. There was a large Jewish quarter.
Seven days ( ). Accusative of extent of time. Paul and his party remained so long at the urgent request of the brethren. He was still a prisoner, but clearly Julius was only too glad to show another courtesy to Paul to whom they all owed their lives. It was 130 miles by land from Puteoli to Rome over one of the great Roman roads.
And so we came to Rome ( ). So at last. Luke is exultant as Page observes: Paulus Romae captivus: triumphus unicus. It is the climax of the book of Acts (Acts 19:21; Acts 23:11), but not the close of Paul’s career. Page rightly remarks that a new paragraph should begin with verse 15, for brethren came from Rome and this part of the journey is touched with the flavour of that incident. The great event is that Paul reached Rome, but not as he had once hoped (Ro 15:22-29).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
COURAGE AT APPII-FORUM AND ENTRANCE INTO ROME v. 14 16
1) “Where we found brethren,” (ou heurontes adelphous) “Where we found or located brethren,” believing brethren, disciples of the Lord, as in Act 1:15; Rom 1:8; Rom 1:12; Rom 1:15. These were likely church brethren who had been won and established as a result of the Pentecost revival and the return of believers to Italy, the European continent, Act 2:10.
2) “And were desired with them,” (pareklethem par’ autios) “And we were besought (appealed to by them) along with them,” as they motivated, plead with us in brotherly love, Joh 13:34-35; Heb 13:2; Rom 12:13.
3) “To tarry seven days:” (epimeinai hepta) “To remain (stay over) for a week, a period of seven days,” for fellowship in the Word, the Spirit, and exchange of testimonies for Christ, Mat 5:15-16; Act 1:8; Psa 107:2. It is believed that the centurion Julius arranged for Paul to stay over at least one Sunday with the church at Puteoli.
4) “And so we went toward Rome.” (kai houtos eis ten hromen elthomen) “And thus (after the manner of their appeal and our stay for seven days with the brethren at Puteoli) we went on into Rome,” where Paul had long desired to preach the gospel, Rom 1:14-16; To the church to whom he addressed the book of Romans, some two years earlier, Rom 1:7. From Puteoli to Rome was about 135 miles.
SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY
A circumstance has come to light within the last thirty years which does surprise us concerning this same neighborhood, showing how extensively the Gospel had permeated and honey combed the country parts of Italy within the lifetime of the first Apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ. Puteoli was a trading city, but Pompeii was a pleasure-loving city, thinking of nothing else, and where sin and iniquity consequently abounded. Yet Christianity had made its way into Pompeii in the lifetime of the Apostles. How then do we know this? Pompeii, as every person of moderate education knows, was totally overthrown by the first great eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 A.D. It remained for seventeen hundred years concealed from human sight or knowledge, till revealed in the year 1755 by excavations systematically pursued. Now at the time that Pompeii was destroyed there was a municipal election going on, and there were found on the walls numerous inscriptions. Among these inscriptions of mere passing and transitory interest, there was one found which illustrates the point at which we have been laboring, for there amid the election notices of 79 A.D., there appeared scribbled by some idle hand the brief words, “Igni gaude Christiane” (0 Christian, rejoice in the fire), proving clearly that Christians existed in Pompeii at that time, that persecution and death had reached them, and that they possessed and displayed the same undaunted spirit as their great leader and teacher, St. Paul, being enabled like him to rejoice amid the sevenfold- heated fires.
– Stokes.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(14) Where we found brethren.The fact is significant as showing, in the absence of any distinct record, the extent to which the new society had been silently spreading. Who had been the agents in preaching the gospel there we can only conjecture, but a city which was en rapport, like Puteoli, with both Alexandria and Rome, may have received it from either. One or two coincidences, however, tend to the former rather than the latter conclusion. We find in Heb. 10:24 a salutation sent from those of (or, better, from) Italy. This would not be a natural way of speaking of Christians of Rome, and we are led, therefore, to think of some other Italian Church. The only such Church, however, of which we read in the New Testament is this of Puteoli, and we naturally infer that the writer of that Epistle refers to it. But the writer was, in the judgment of many critics (see Introduction to the Epistle to the Hebrews), none other than Apollos, the eloquent Alexandrian Jew of Act. 18:24, and some have been led to think that it was addressed to the Hebrew disciples of the Therapeut, or ascetic, class, in the Delta of the Nile. All these facts tend to the conclusion that there was a connection of some kind between Alexandria and some Italian Church, and the theory that that Church was at Puteoli, though not proven, at least combines and explains all the phenomena. We find from Josephus (Ant. xvii. 12, 1) that there was a considerable Jewish element in the population of Puteoli. They had, indeed, spread themselves through the greater part of Italy, and the remains of a Jewish cemetery have been found even near Perugia.
Were desired to tarry with them seven days.As before at Troas (Act. 20:6) and Tyre (Act. 21:4), so here, we can scarcely fail to connect the duration of St. Pauls stay at Puteoli with the wish of the Church there, that he should be with them on one, or, it may be, two Sundays, that so he might break bread with them, and that they might profit by his teaching. The kindness of the centurion is seen once more in the permission which made compliance with the request possible.
And so we went toward Rome.The journey would lead them through Cum and Liternum to Sinuessa, a distance of thirty-three miles from Puteoli. Here they would come upon the great Appian Road, which ran from Rome to Brundusium, the modern Brindisi. The stages from Sinuessa would probably be Minturn, Formi, Fundi, and Terracina, making altogether a distance of fifty-seven miles. At this point they would have to choose between two modes of travel, taking the circuitous road round the Pontine Marshes, or going by the more direct line of the canal. Both routes met at Appii Forum, eighteen miles from Terracina. For us well-nigh every stage of the journey is connected with some historical or legendary fact in classical antiquity. We think of the great Appius Claudius, the censor from whom the Via and the Forum took their names; of the passage in the over-crowded canal track-boat, with its brawling sailors, and of the scoundrel inn-keepers, whom Horace has immortalised in the narrative of his journey to Brundusium (Sat. i. 5). All this was, we may believe, for the Apostle as though it had not been. Past associations and the incidents of travel, all were for him swallowed up in the thought that he was now on the point of reaching, after long delays, the goal after which he had been striving for so many years (Act. 19:21; Rom. 15:23).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Found brethren Jews were plenty at Puteoli, as a commercial town, and Christians were not wanting. It is a proof of Julius’ high regard for Paul that he delayed an entire week in deference to the wishes of his Christian friends. The week suggests that it was the wish of the Christian Church at Puteoli that Paul should pass a Sabbath with them that his preaching might be heard by a general gathering of a widespread brotherhood. By the delay, as intimated in the verse following, intelligence of the apostle’s arrival surprised the Church at Rome, and drew a joyous delegation thence to meet and escort the “ambassador in bonds” to the capital.
Toward Rome From Puteoli they would go twelve miles eastward to intersect the great Appian Way at Capua, (see map,) the luxurious city which melted away the hardihood of Hannibal’s veteran army. The Appian Way was titled in ancient times the “Queen of Great Thoroughfares.” It was built by Appius Claudius four hundred and eleven years after the founding of the city. It stretched from Rome, the length of southern Italy, until, as seen on the map, it reached Brundusium at the extremity of the heel of the boot-like shape of Italy. From Brundusium a water route across the Adriatic connected it at Dyrrachium on the west coast of Greece with the great Egnatian Way, (see notes on Act 16:14-40,) and thence formed an unbroken line to the northeastern extremity of Macedonia. From the intersection at Capua to Rome was one hundred and twenty-five miles.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And on the second day we came to Puteoli, where we found brethren, and were entreated to tarry with them seven days. And so we came to Rome.’
Sailing time was good and on the second day they arrived at Puteoli which competed with Ostia as the main grain terminal for Rome. There they found a group of Christians and were heartily welcomed among them for ‘seven days’, a period of joy and bliss. This meant that they could spend with them both the Sabbath day and the first day of the week, celebrating together the Lord’s Supper. So having started off with a seven day stay at Troas so long ago (per the parallel) at the commencement of his ‘journey’ (to Rome via Jerusalem) he now experiences the same thing at the end. All is well. God has not changed. A recently discovered Christian chapel at nearby Herculaneum may well once have been a venue for some of these Christians who met Paul.
Luke does not explain how this seven days was managed, for after all Paul was a prisoner. But Paul was now the hero of the shipwreck and may well have been given some licence. It may, however, be that on arrival at his destination the centurion had some formalities to complete which necessitated a seven day wait. Possibly arrangements had to be made for the disposal of the prisoners. This was the Rome terminal. Or possibly their papers had been lost at sea, necessitating further instructions
‘And so we came to Rome.’ This is not a travel description, but a triumphant eulogy. ‘This is how we came to Rome, into the bosom of believers.’ They were in fact not quite there yet, but to these weary travellers it seemed like a homecoming at their first real landing on Italian soil. To them Puteoli in Italy spelt Rome. (To arrive at Ostia or Puteoli signified Rome to all sea travellers. They were Rome’s grain terminals). This would be how they would ever remember their arrival in ‘Rome’.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
Ver. 14. Seven days ] For mutual enjoyment of one another; there being no such comfort upon earth, next to communion with God, as the communion of saints, 2Jn 1:12 , that our joy may be full. This, heathens knew, and therefore relegated Christians and confined them to isles and mines, where they could not have access one to another. (Cyprian, Epist.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
14. ] These Christians were perhaps Alexandrines, as the commerce was so considerable between the two places.
] after this stay with them : implying that the request was complied with.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 28:14 . , see on Act 1:15 , they may have been from Alexandria, as the commerce between it and Puteoli was so considerable; the absence of the article indicates that the writer knew nothing of their presence previously, but at all events Blass is right when he says, “non magis mirum est Puteolis Christianos ante Paulum fuisse quam Rom”. Probably after Rome itself Puteoli was the most ancient Jewish community in Italy. Jews were there as early as B.C. 4, after the death of Herod the Great, Jos., Ant. , xvii., 12, 1; B. J. , ii., 7, 1, and Schrer accepts the notice of the existence of a Christian Church as in the text, Jewish People , div. ii., vol. ii., p. 241, E.T., so too O. Holtzmann, Neutest. Zeitgeschichte , p. 108; see also Lightfoot, Philippians , p. 26. Rhegium and Puteoli are the only two Italian towns mentioned in the N.T. (except, of course, Rome itself), and when we consider that Puteoli was the most important port, not only for ships from Alexandria, but also from Syria, there is nothing surprising in the fact that Christianity found an early and an easy entrance; at Pompeii, not far from Puteoli, Christianity had made its way, and before 79 A.D. it was discussed by the gossiping loungers in the street (Ramsay). .: “we were entreated to tarry,” R.V. Ramsay (so Blass), rendering “we were consoled among them, remaining seven days” (see critical note), thinks that R.V., although strongly supported, is irreconcilable with St. Paul’s situation as a prisoner. Julius was a Roman officer, and discipline was natural to him, however friendly he was towards Paul. Blass compares Act 20:12 , and Zckler also prefers the inferior reading on account of this more usual meaning of . Probably the seven days’ delay was needful for Julius to report his arrival at Rome, and to receive further orders from the capital, perhaps with regard to the disposal of the prisoners, but St. Paul must have been rejoiced at the opportunity of celebrating a Sunday with the little Christian Church at Puteoli, cf. Act 20:6 , Act 21:4 . : “and so we came to Rome,” about 140 miles, cf. Act 27:25 , “destinatum itineris terminum,” Blass, cf. the article before ., Blass, Gram. , p. 149, so Bengel (but see Page’s note). Others take as simply = after the stay of seven days, a notice which leads on to Act 28:15 , and makes us to understand how the brethren came to meet us, since news would easily have reached Rome, and a deputation of the brethren have arrived at Appii Forum. On the former view the writer marks the conclusion and the aim of the long journey ( cf. . before the verb; in Act 28:12-13 , names of places follow the verb without any article, Weiss), and there is a kind of triumph in the words: like an emperor who has fought a naval battle and overcome, Paul entered into that most imperial city; he was nearer now to his crown; Rome received him bound, and saw him crowned and proclaimed conqueror: cf. Chrys. Others take . as = , the actual end of the journey following in Act 28:16 (see on the other hand Wendt, in loco , 1888). But Act 28:15 may possibly be taken as adding an episode which commences, as it were, a new section of the Apostle’s work in the meeting with the brethren from Rome, the journey itself being regarded as completed in Act 28:14 (Nsgen). If we read in Act 28:16 , see critical note, the word emphasises apparently the actual entry into the city, “and when we entered into,” R.V., or it may simply take up the conclusion of Act 28:14 (so Wendt, who sees no difficulty in the words). Ramsay, however, draws another distinction between Act 28:14 ; Act 28:16 (to which Wendt (1899) refers, without endorsing it), and thinks that the double expression of arrival is due to the double meaning which the name of a city-state bears in Greek ( St. Paul , pp. III, 347, and Expositor , Jan., 1899); thus Rome might be restricted to the walls and buildings, or it might include the whole ager Romanus , and so in Act 28:14 , “we reached the State Rome,” we passed through two points in the ager Romanus , Act 28:15 , and in Act 28:16 , “we entered the (walls of) Rome”.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
desired = entreated. Greek. parakaleo. App-134.
with. Greek. epi. App-104., but the texts read para (xii. 2).
went = came.
toward. Greek. eis. App-104. Rome was used in a more extended sense here than in Act 28:16.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
14.] These Christians were perhaps Alexandrines, as the commerce was so considerable between the two places.
] after this stay with them: implying that the request was complied with.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 28:14. ) The sight of brethren was a consolation to us [Engl. Vers. takes differently]; and it led us to stay seven days. Here also the kindness of the centurion gave indulgence to Paul.- , we came to Rome) a remarkable place, earnestly wished for. Here there is an Emphasis on , (the) Rome, that it may be marked as the city long desired: but in Act 28:16, , we came to Rome, the emphasis is on , we came, that the entry itself may be marked.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
we found: Act 9:42, Act 9:43, Act 19:1, Act 21:4, Act 21:7, Act 21:8, Psa 119:63, Mat 10:11
and were: Act 20:6, Gen 7:4, Gen 8:10-12
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4
Act 28:14. Smith’s Bible Dictionary says Puteoli was “the great landing-place of travelers to Italy,” so it is not surprising that some brethren would be there.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 28:14. Where we found brethren. We know from Romans 16, and indeed from the mere existence of the Epistle to the Romans, that the Christian brethren were at this time numerous in the metropolis. Hence there must have been Christians at Puteoli, which was the place of communication by sea with Palestine. We must also remember that, since Puteoli was a mercantile harbour with very active business, the Jews were probably numerous there, with a synagogue or more than one.
Were desired to tarry with them seven days. We seem here to have a clear indication of the observance of the Lords day, as in Act 20:6-7 at Troas, and in Act 21:4 at Tyre. As to the permission given by Julius to spend a week at Puteoli, this need cause us no difficulty. He might himself be waiting for orders; it is probable that he had time at his command; and now, at the close of the voyage, after owing his life to St. Paul, it is not likely that he would be less considerate and kind than at the beginning (see Act 27:3).
And so we went toward Rome. More correctly, and so we came to Rome. From this bare statement of the fact of their arrival at the end of their journey, St. Luke turns aside in the next sentence to mention most interesting circumstances connected with their route from Puteoli. This route was first by a road called the Consular Way, which led to Capua, and then along the celebrated Appian Way to Rome. The stages are given in the Itineraries (see Wesseling). For the features of the country through which they travelled, see Life and Epistles of St. Paul.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 11
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
14, 15. It is two hundred and twenty miles to Rome. Paul and his comrades had a nice walk. I ran over it by steam. The brethren came out forty miles and met him at the Appii Forum and the Three Forums, a good recreation walk.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 14
Where we found brethren. This shows how extensively the Christian religion had already been disseminated.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
28:14 {8} Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.
(8) God bows and bends the hearts even of profane men, as it pleases him to show favour to his own.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
It is not strange that a church existed there. Puteoli had a Jewish colony. [Note: Josephus, The Wars . . ., 2:7:1; Idem, Antiquities of . . ., 17:11:1.] Perhaps Roman Christians had planted this church, or perhaps Jewish converts had done so. The local Christians were very generous with their hospitality to Paul and his companions. "And thus we came to Rome" expresses Luke’s eagerness to reach Paul’s goal city. They had not really arrived in Rome (cf. Act 28:15-16). However, Luke viewed Puteoli as close enough to warrant this enthusiastic announcement of their arrival, even though Paul still had 130 miles to travel.