Acts 28:12

KJV

And landing at Syracuse, we tarried [there] three days.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} landing {G2609} at {G1519} Syracuse {G4946}, we tarried {G1961} there three {G5140} days {G2250}.

Complete Jewish Bible

We landed at Syracuse and stayed three days.

Berean Standard Bible

Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

American Standard Version

And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 28:12 concisely records a brief but significant stop in Paul's arduous journey to Rome, detailing their arrival by ship at Syracuse, a major port city on the island of Sicily, where they remained for three days. This seemingly simple logistical detail highlights the ongoing divine guidance over Paul's mission, even through the mundane aspects of travel, as he progressed toward his ultimate destination and calling to testify about Christ in the imperial capital.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Paul's three-month stay on the island of Malta, where he had miraculously survived a shipwreck (Acts 27) and performed healing miracles (Acts 28:1-10). Having departed Malta on an Alexandrian ship named "The Castor and Pollux" (Acts 28:11), the narrative shifts from the dramatic events of the storm and island sojourn to the final, more routine leg of the sea voyage toward Rome. Acts 28:12-14 then outlines a series of port calls—Syracuse, Rhegium, and Puteoli—before Paul and his companions finally reach Rome, emphasizing the meticulous detail with which Luke documents the journey, underscoring its historical veracity and the providential hand guiding Paul every step of the way.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Syracuse, located on the southeastern coast of Sicily, was one of the most important and powerful cities in the ancient Mediterranean world, renowned for its strategic harbor, rich history, and significant trade connections. As a major port, it served as a natural and necessary stop for ships traveling from the southern Mediterranean, like the one carrying Paul, to points north, including Italy. Ancient maritime travel was heavily dependent on favorable winds, and stops like the one in Syracuse were common for resupply, repairs, or waiting for suitable weather conditions. For a ship carrying prisoners, such as Paul, these stops would also involve official procedures, ensuring the secure transfer or custody of the captives. The "three days" likely indicate a standard period required for such logistical necessities before resuming the voyage.
* **Key Themes:** Acts 28:12 contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Acts. Firstly, it reinforces the theme of **Divine Providence and Guidance**, demonstrating that God's plan for Paul to reach Rome (as promised in [Acts 23:11](/acts/23-11 "Acts 23:11 - God's Promise to Paul")) was unfolding even through the seemingly ordinary details of travel and logistical stops. Every leg of the journey, including this brief pause, was part of God's sovereign orchestration. Secondly, Luke's inclusion of precise geographical and temporal details, such as the mention of Syracuse and the three-day stay, highlights his commitment to **Historical Accuracy and Verisimilitude**, lending credibility to his narrative as a reliable historical account of the early church. This meticulous reporting is characteristic of Luke's writing throughout Acts, from the detailed ship's journey in [Acts 27](/acts/27 "Acts 27 - Paul's Shipwreck") to the specific locations of early Christian expansion. Finally, the verse subtly underscores Paul's **Perseverance and unwavering commitment to his mission**, despite being a prisoner. Each stop, rather than being a hindrance, is a step closer to fulfilling his divine mandate to preach the Gospel in the imperial capital, a goal he had long desired as expressed in [Romans 1:13](/romans/1-13 "Romans 1:13 - Paul's Desire to Visit Rome").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **landing (Greek, _katágō'_):** From G2609, meaning "to lead down; specially, to moor a vessel." This word precisely describes the act of bringing a ship to shore or docking it. In the context of ancient seafaring, it signifies the successful completion of a leg of the journey and the secure anchoring of the vessel in a harbor.
* **tarried (Greek, _epiménō'_):** From G1961, meaning "to stay over, i.e. remain (figuratively, persevere)." This term indicates a temporary but deliberate stop or continuation in a place. It does not imply a hurried departure but rather a period of settled residence, however brief, for a specific purpose such as resupply, rest, or waiting for favorable conditions.
* **days (Greek, _hēméra'_):** From G2250, meaning "day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours." This word simply denotes a unit of time, emphasizing the specific duration of their stay. The mention of "three days" provides a concrete temporal marker, adding to the historical precision of Luke's account.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And landing at Syracuse":** This phrase marks the successful arrival of Paul's ship at Syracuse, a significant port city on the eastern coast of Sicily. The act of "landing" (κατάγω, _katágō_) implies the ship was brought safely to shore, concluding the initial leg of the voyage from Malta. This detail underscores the continued progress of Paul's journey, despite the previous shipwreck and the challenges of ancient sea travel.
* **"we tarried [there] three days":** This clause specifies the duration of their stay in Syracuse. The verb "tarried" (ἐπιμένω, _epiménō_) indicates a period of remaining or staying, which would have been necessary for various logistical reasons common in ancient maritime journeys, such as taking on provisions, waiting for favorable winds, or fulfilling official requirements related to the transport of prisoners. The "three days" is a precise temporal detail, characteristic of Luke's historical reporting.

#### Literary Devices
Luke's account in Acts 28:12, while brief, employs several literary devices. The most prominent is **Conciseness**, where a significant event—a stop at a major port city—is conveyed in a single, unadorned sentence. This brevity serves to maintain the narrative's momentum towards Rome, treating the stop as a necessary logistical step rather than a dramatic episode. Coupled with this is **Historical Precision**, evident in the specific naming of Syracuse and the exact duration of their stay ("three days"). This meticulous detail, characteristic of Luke's writing throughout Acts, functions as a form of **Verisimilitude**, lending an air of authenticity and factual reliability to the narrative. It assures the reader that these events are grounded in real-world geography and time, reinforcing the historical integrity of the entire journey to Rome.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 28:12, though seemingly a mere travelogue entry, subtly reinforces the theme of God's meticulous providence over the lives and missions of His servants. Even in the mundane details of a journey—the choice of a port, the duration of a stop—God's hand is guiding, ensuring that His purposes are fulfilled. Paul, a prisoner, is not left to the whims of fate or human planning alone; divine sovereignty orchestrates his path, bringing him closer to Rome to bear witness to Christ. This brief pause in Syracuse is a testament to God's patient and precise work, preparing Paul for the next stage of his ministry. It reminds believers that every step, every delay, and every seemingly insignificant detail in their lives can be part of God's larger, perfect plan.

* [Proverbs 16:9](/proverbs/16-9 "Proverbs 16:9 - The Lord Directs Our Steps")
* [Psalm 37:23](/psalms/37-23 "Psalm 37:23 - The Steps of a Good Man Are Ordered by the Lord")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - All Things Work Together for Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 28:12 offers a profound lesson on the nature of our own journeys, both physical and spiritual. Just as Paul's journey to Rome involved necessary stops and pauses, our lives are rarely a straight, uninterrupted path. We encounter periods of "tarrying"—moments of waiting, unexpected delays, or even detours that seem to halt our progress. These pauses, though sometimes frustrating or seemingly unproductive, are often integral to God's larger design. They can be times for rest, for preparation, for receiving new instructions, or for God to orchestrate circumstances unseen by us. Instead of viewing such periods as setbacks, we are called to embrace them with trust, recognizing that God is just as present and purposeful in the quiet, waiting moments as He is in the dramatic breakthroughs. Our faith is not only in the destination but in the divine guide who orchestrates every step, including the pauses, for our good and His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Syracuses" or periods of waiting have you experienced in your own life, and how did you respond to them?**
* **How can you cultivate a greater trust in God's timing and providence during periods of delay or uncertainty?**
* **In what ways might God be preparing you or redirecting your path during a current "tarrying" period?**

### FAQ
**Why did Paul's ship stop at Syracuse for three days?**

Answer: While the text does not explicitly state the reason, ancient maritime travel was heavily dependent on weather conditions, particularly favorable winds. Ships often had to stop at major ports like Syracuse for various logistical reasons: to resupply provisions and water, to make minor repairs, to offload or take on cargo, or to wait for suitable winds to continue their journey. For a ship transporting prisoners, there might also have been official procedures or changes in guard personnel. The "three days" was likely a standard or necessary period for these operations before they could safely resume their voyage towards Rome.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 28:12, though a simple logistical detail, points to a deeper Christ-centered truth: the unwavering and divinely orchestrated progression of God's redemptive plan through His chosen instruments. Just as Paul's journey to Rome was a necessary step in fulfilling his commission to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles and ultimately to the imperial capital, so too was the entire earthly journey of Christ. Every step of Jesus' life, from His birth in Bethlehem (as prophesied in [Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Prophecy of Bethlehem")) to His ministry in Galilee and Judea, and His final ascent to Jerusalem, was meticulously guided by divine purpose. His journey culminated not in an earthly capital, but in the ultimate act of redemption on the cross (as described in [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")) and His glorious resurrection, which secured salvation for all who believe. Paul's journey, with its divinely appointed stops and detours, mirrors the steadfast progress of Christ's mission to establish His kingdom, a mission that continues through His church today, empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach the "ends of the earth" ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - The Great Commission")). Ultimately, every journey of faith, every step of obedience, and every period of waiting finds its meaning and purpose in the finished work of Christ and His ongoing reign.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.