SEV Biblia, Chapter 28:14
donde habiendo hallado los hermanos, nos rogaron que nos quedsemos con ellos siete días; y luego vinimos a Roma,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 28:14
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 defense.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. Where we found brethren , etc.] 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 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 ( Romans 16:14); who is reckoned one of the seventy disciples, is said to be bishop of this place; (see Gill on Luke 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 f1370 : 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 Gill on Acts 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 f1371 ; 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 rwmh , which signifies strength f1372 , 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 wr , 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 f1373 , that at the time Solomon married Pharaohs 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 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 f1375 , Italy of Greece, this is the great city of Rome; and again f1376 , on the day in which Jeroboam set up the two calves, Remus and Romulus came and built two cottages in Rome.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-16 - The common events of travelling are seldom worthy of being told; but the comfort of communion with the saints, and kindness shown by friends, deserve particular mention. The Christians at Rome were so fa from being ashamed of Paul, or afraid of owning him, because he was prisoner, that they were the more careful to show him respect. He ha great comfort in this. And if our friends are kind to us, God puts it into their hearts, and we must give him the glory. When we see thos even in strange places, who bear Christ's name, fear God, and serv him, we should lift up our hearts to heaven in thanksgiving. How man great men have made their entry into Rome, crowned and in triumph, wh really were plagues to the world! But here a good man makes his entr into Rome, chained as a poor captive, who was a greater blessing to the world than any other merely a man. Is not this enough to put us for ever out of conceit with worldly favour? This may encourage God' prisoners, that he can give them favour in the eyes of those that carr them captives. When God does not soon deliver his people out of bondage, yet makes it easy to them, or them easy under it, they have reason to be thankful.
Greek Textus Receptus
ου 3757 ADV ευροντες 2147 5631 V-2AAP-NPM αδελφους 80 N-APM παρεκληθημεν 3870 5681 V-API-1P επ 1909 PREP αυτοις 846 P-DPM επιμειναι 1961 5658 V-AAN ημερας 2250 N-APF επτα 2033 A-NUI και 2532 CONJ ουτως 3779 ADV εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF ρωμην 4516 N-ASF ηλθομεν 2064 5627 V-2AAI-1P
Robertson's NT Word Studies
28:14 {Where we found brethren} (hou heurontes adelfous). 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} (hemeras hepta). 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} (kai houtws eis ten romen elqamen). So at last. Luke is exultant as Page observes: _Paulus Romae captivus: triumphus unicus_. It is the climax of the book of Acts (#19:21; 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).
