Acts 28:12

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

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

We landed at Syracuse and stayed three days.

Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

Acts 28:12 marks a continued stage in the remarkable journey of the Apostle Paul towards Rome, following his shipwreck and stay on the island of Malta. This verse provides a concise detail about their maritime route, highlighting the specific port of Syracuse on Sicily where they paused for three days.

Context of Paul's Journey

After miraculously surviving a violent storm and shipwreck near the island of Malta, as described in Acts 27:41, Paul and his companions spent three months on the island (Acts 28:11). Their departure from Malta initiated the final leg of their voyage to Rome. Syracuse, a prominent city on the eastern coast of Sicily, served as a crucial port in the ancient Mediterranean, making it a logical stop for ships traveling from the south. The "three days" they tarried there would have been for resupply, waiting for favorable winds, or perhaps for official procedures related to the prisoner transport.

Key Themes and Messages

Divine Providence in Travel: This verse, though brief, underscores the meticulous detail with which Luke records Paul's journey, emphasizing that even the seemingly mundane stops were part of God's overarching plan for Paul to reach Rome and testify about Christ (Acts 23:11). God guides the path, even through detours and delays.
Historical Accuracy: Luke's precise geographical references throughout Acts, including this mention of Syracuse, lend significant credibility to his historical account. Such details are characteristic of a careful historian.
Perseverance Through Adversity: Despite being a prisoner and enduring a shipwreck, Paul's mission continues. Each stop, including Syracuse, represents a step closer to fulfilling his divine calling to preach the Gospel in the imperial capital.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "tarried" is diatribō (διατρίβω), which literally means "to rub through" or "to spend time." It simply denotes the act of staying or spending a period of time in a place. There isn't a deep theological nuance to the word itself here, but it accurately conveys a temporary stopover.

Practical Application

Acts 28:12 reminds us that life's journeys often include unexpected stops, delays, or detours. Just as Paul's journey involved waiting periods and specific ports of call, our own paths may have moments of "tarrying." These periods, though not always glamorous, are often essential for preparation, rest, or redirection. We can trust that God is at work even in these pauses, guiding our steps and preparing us for the next stage of our journey, much like He was with Paul on his way to Rome.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

No cross-references found for this verse.