Acts 28:15

When the brethren heard of us - By whom the Gospel was planted at Rome is not known: it does not appear that any apostle was employed in this work. It was probably carried thither by some of those who were converted to God at the day of pentecost; for there were then at Jerusalem, not only devout men, proselytes to the Jewish religion, from every nation under heaven, Acts 2:5 , but there were strangers of Rome also, Acts 2:10 . And it in most reasonable to believe, as we know of no other origin, that it was by these Christianity was planted at Rome.

As far as Appii Forum - About 52 miles from Rome; a long way to come on purpose to meet the apostle! The Appii Forum, or Market of Appius, was a town on the Appian way, a road paved from Rome to Campania, by the consul Appius Claudius. It was near the sea, and was a famous resort for sailors, peddlers, etc. Horace, lib. i. Satyr. 5, ver. 3, mentions this place on his journey from Rome to Brundusium: -

- Inde Forum Appi

Differtum nautis, cauponibus atgue malignis .

"To Forum Appii thence we steer, a place

Stuff'd with rank boatmen, and with vintners base."

This town is now called Caesarilla de S. Maria.

And the Three Taverns - This was another place on the same road, and about 33 miles from Rome. Some of the Roman Christians had come as far as Appii Forum: others, to the Three Taverns. Bp. Pearce remarks, there are some ruins in that place which are now called Tre Taverne; and this place Cicero mentions in his epistles to Atticus, lib. ii. 11. Ab Appi Foro hora quarta: dederam aliam paulo ante in Tribus Tabernis . "Dated at ten in the morning, from Appii Forum. I sent off another (epistle) a little before, from the Three Taverns."

Zosimus, lib. 2, mentions τρια καπηλεια , the three taverns, or victualling houses, where the Emperor Severus was strangled by the treason of Maximinus Herculeus, and his son Maxentius. See Lightfoot.

The word taberna , from trabs , a beam, signifies any building formed of timber; such as those we call booths, sheds, etc., which are formed of beams, planks, boards, and the like; and therefore me may consider it as implying, either a temporary residence, or some mean building, such as a cottage, etc. And in this sense Horace evidently uses it, Carm. lib. i. Od. iv. ver. 13: -

Pallida mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas

Regumque turres .

"With equal pace, impartial Fate

Knocks at the palace as the cottage gate."

Francis.