Chapter
Verse

Acts 28:14

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.

What does Acts 28:14 mean?

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.
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