Acts 28:15

And from thence the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him.

The Market of Appius ... This place was "forty-three miles from Rome,"[21] and the travel of some of the saints in Rome such a distance to welcome the beloved apostle was a source of great joy. He had written them several years earlier of his intention of coming, but neither any of them nor Paul could have supposed that the manner of his arrival would be as it came to pass. He entered as a prisoner, chained to a soldier, and filled with apprehension lest the brethren might be ashamed of his bonds. No wonder he "thanked God, and took courage." The Lord had not forsaken him; faithful brethren stood by to cheer and welcome him.

As for a description of this place on the old Appian Way, we shall leave it to the travelogues; but one priceless line from the poet Horace, for which we are indebted to Plumptre, is as follows:

"With sailors filled, and scoundrel publicans!"[22]

Three Taverns ... was ten miles closer to Rome, indicating that some, possibly including women and children, had not traveled as rapidly as others. One should read the last chapter of Romans in connection with this welcoming scene, wondering if some of the names there might not have been those of persons appearing here. A mist comes in our eyes as we meditate upon all the emotions that swept over the hearts of the Christians at this historic meeting.

This place was no better than The Market of Appius, both of them being typical commercial stops between the port of Puteoli and the "eternal city."

[21] H. Leo Boles, Commentary on Acts (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1953), p. 436.

[22] E. H. Plumptre, Ellicott's Commentary on the Holy Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1959), Vol. VII, p. 181.