SEV Biblia, Chapter 28:12
Y llegados a Siracusa, estuvimos allí tres días.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 28:12
Verse 12. Landing at Syracuse] In order to go to Rome from Malta, their readiest course was to keep pretty close to the eastern coast of Sicily, in order to pass through the straits of Rhegium and get into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Syracuse is one of the most famous cities of antiquity: it is the capital of the island of Sicily, and was built about 730 years before the Christian era.
It lies 72 miles S. by E. of Messina, and about 112 of Palermo. Long. 15.
30'. W., lat. 37. 17'. N. In its ancient state, it was about 22 English miles in circumference; and was highly celebrated for the martial spirit of its inhabitants. This was the birthplace of the illustrious Archimedes; who, when the city was besieged by the Romans, under Marcellus, about 212 years before Christ, defended the place with his powerful engines against all the valor and power of the assailants. He beat their galleys to pieces by huge stones projected from his machines; and by hooks, chains, and levers, from the walls, weighed the ships out of the water, and, whirling them round, dashed them in pieces against each other, or sunk them to the bottom: several also, he is said to have destroyed by his burning glasses.
When the city was taken by treachery, Archimedes was found intensely engaged in the demonstration of a problem. A Roman soldier coming up, and presenting his dagger to his throat, he cried, "Stop, soldier, or thou wilt spoil my diagram!" The brute was unmoved, and murdered him on the spot.
This city was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake in 16xc3: its present population amounts to but about 18,000. Christianity, in some form or other, has existed here ever since St. Paul spent the three days in it, mentioned in the text.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. And landing at Syracuse , etc.] A famous city in the isle of Sicily, now called Saragossa: it is placed by Ptolomy on the east side of the island, in the Adriatic sea; it was 180 furlongs, or two and twenty miles and a half in circuit, and formerly had a marble haven and triple wall, and as many towers; the founder of it was Archias, a Corinthian; Pliny says f1346 , that it is never so cloudy weather, but the sun is seen in it, at one time or another of the day: Cicero calls it the greatest and most beautiful of all the cities of Greece; it is such a city, he says, that it may be said to consist of four large cities; one part of it is called the island, which has two ports to it; another was called Acradina, in which were a large market, beautiful porticos, etc. the third, Tiche, in which was the ancient temple of Fortune; and the fourth, which because it was last built, was called Neapolis: it is a very ancient city, being built more than seven hundred years before the birth of Christ; it was a colony of the Corinthians; here reigned two tyrants, whose names were Dionysius; it was attacked by the Carthaginians, but without success, being delivered from the siege by Pyrrhus king of Epirus f1348 ; it was again assaulted by the Athenians, who were repulsed, and entirely conquered, about the year before Christ 413: after that it was taken by Marcellus, the Roman consul, about the year of the city of Rome 542 f1349 , after a three years siege; during which time it was defended, and preserved by the means of the famous mathematician Archimedes; who by his invention of warlike machines, baffled all the attempts of the Romans; but was killed by a soldier, as he was intent upon his studies, not knowing that the city was taken; and it continued in the hands of the Romans, until it was taken and plundered by the Saracens, in the year of Christ 675; and was retaken by Roger king of Apulia, about the year 1090, and is now under the government of Don Carlos, king of the two Sicilies; we tarried there three days ; on what account it is not said, whether on account of merchandise, or for the sake of the conversation of Christians here: it is certain there were churches in Sicily very early; we read of them in the second and third centuries; in the time of Constantine, at the beginning of the fourth century, there was a church at Syracuse, of which Chrestus was bishop, to whom the emperor wrote a letter himself, which is still extant in Eusebius f1350 : in the fifth century, Hilarius, a teacher at Syracuse, wrote from thence to Augustine, concerning the Pelagian heresy, to whom he gave an answer: in the sixth century, Maximinianus, bishop of this church, had the inspection of all the churches in Sicily committed to him, by Gregory; who was wonderfully preserved in a shipwreck, as he was returning from Rome; in this same age lived John, bishop of Syracuse, and Trajanus a presbyter, and Felix a deacon of the same church: in the seventh century there was one George bishop of this place, to whom Pope Vitalian wrote a letter; and in the same century a bishop of this church was in the sixth council at Constantinople f1351 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-16 - The common events of travelling are seldom worthy of being told; but the comfort of communion with the saints, and kindness shown by friends, deserve particular mention. The Christians at Rome were so fa from being ashamed of Paul, or afraid of owning him, because he was prisoner, that they were the more careful to show him respect. He ha great comfort in this. And if our friends are kind to us, God puts it into their hearts, and we must give him the glory. When we see thos even in strange places, who bear Christ's name, fear God, and serv him, we should lift up our hearts to heaven in thanksgiving. How man great men have made their entry into Rome, crowned and in triumph, wh really were plagues to the world! But here a good man makes his entr into Rome, chained as a poor captive, who was a greater blessing to the world than any other merely a man. Is not this enough to put us for ever out of conceit with worldly favour? This may encourage God' prisoners, that he can give them favour in the eyes of those that carr them captives. When God does not soon deliver his people out of bondage, yet makes it easy to them, or them easy under it, they have reason to be thankful.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ καταχθεντες 2609 5685 V-APP-NPM εις 1519 PREP συρακουσας 4946 N-APF επεμειναμεν 1961 5656 V-AAI-1P ημερας 2250 N-APF τρεις 5140 A-APF
Robertson's NT Word Studies
28:12 {Touching} (katacqentes). First aorist passive participle of katagw, to go down to land, just the opposite of anecqemen in verse #11 from anagw, to go up to sea. {At Syracuse} (eis surakousas). The chief city of Sicily and eighty miles from Malta. Perhaps open weather and a southerly wind helped them across. Here it was that Alcibiades wrecked the power and glory of Athens. Why the ship spent three days we do not know.
