Three Taverns
Three Taverns was a roadside station on the Appian Way, roughly thirty miles from Rome, where a group of believers from the city traveled out to meet Paul as he made his final approach as a prisoner. Along with another group who met him further out at the Forum of Appius, their presence so encouraged Paul that Luke records he "thanked God, and took courage" at the sight of them. This small waystation, unremarkable in itself, became the setting for one of the most moving personal moments in Paul's entire journey - the simple comfort of being welcomed by fellow believers after years of hardship, trial, and travel.
Details
- Region
- Italy
- Modern Location
- Near Cisterna di Latina, Italy
Key Passages
Believers Meet Paul at Three Taverns
Acts 28:15
The sight of fellow believers coming out to meet him gives Paul visible encouragement and courage as he nears the trial awaiting him in Rome.
15nd from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
Did You Know?
Three Taverns was a standard Roman road station about thirty-three miles from Rome - Cicero mentions stopping there in his letters, a century before Paul.
Two separate delegations walked out from Rome to meet Paul - at the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns - a prisoner welcomed like a dignitary.
At the sight of the believers, Paul 'thanked God, and took courage' - the apostle who wrote most about encouragement needed it too.