Syracuse stood on the east coast of the island of Sicily. It was a busy port and the most important city on the island. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Acts 28:11-20 - Still Seeking His Own Kinsmen
Paul went toward Rome, as we have seen, under very different circumstances from those that he originally anticipated; but, after all, they gave him the greatest opportunity of his life. The things that befell him were for the furtherance of the gospel. In no other way could he have approached or touched such men as the centurion, or the members of Caesar's household, or Publius, or Nero himself.
It was very good of Julius to give Paul seven days' rest in the lovely bay of Puteoli, at the foot of Vesuvius. The little towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum were not yet overwhelmed. What teaching and what happy fellowship the little church now enjoyed! Forty-three miles from Rome, at Appii Forum, a body of Christians awaited the Apostle with greetings, and ten miles farther on, at the Three Taverns, was another group. If Paul had entertained fears about his reception, they were immediately dispelled. The Apostle thanked God and took courage.
How he had longed to see mighty Rome! He was now allowed to live in his own house, chained to a soldier. In these circumstances he was secure from the hatred and plottings of the Jews, who in every city had endangered his life and impeded his labors. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 28
1Paul, after his shipwreck, is kindly entertained on Malta 5The snake on his hand hurts him not 8He heals many diseases in the island 11They depart toward Rome 17He declares to the Jews the cause of his coming 24After his preaching some were persuaded, and some believed not 30Yet he preaches there two years
Greek Commentary for Acts 28:12
Touching [καταχτεντες] First aorist passive participle of καταγω katagō to go down to land, just the opposite of ανηχτημεν anēchthēmen in Acts 28:11 from αναγω anagō go up to sea. [source]
At Syracuse [εις Συρακουσας] 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. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 28:12
Acts 19:40There being no cause for it [μηδενος αιτιου υπαρχοντος] Genitive absolute with αιτιος aitios common adjective (cf. αιτια aitia cause) though in N.T. only here and Hebrews 5:9; Luke 23:4,Luke 23:14,Luke 23:22. And as touching it (περι ου peri hou). “Concerning which.” But what? No clear antecedent, only the general idea. Give an account of this concourse Rationem reddere. They will have to explain matters to the proconsul. Συστροπη Sustrophē (from συν sun together, στρεπω strephō to turn) is a late word for a conspiracy (Acts 23:12) and a disorderly riot as here (Polybius). In Acts 28:12 συστρεπω sustrephō is used of gathering up a bundle of sticks and of men combining in Matthew 17:22. Seneca says that there was nothing on which the Romans looked with such jealousy as a tumultuous meeting. [source]
Acts 19:40Give an account of this concourse [αποδουναι λογον περι της συστροπης ταυτης] Rationem reddere. They will have to explain matters to the proconsul. Συστροπη Sustrophē (from συν sun together, στρεπω strephō to turn) is a late word for a conspiracy (Acts 23:12) and a disorderly riot as here (Polybius). In Acts 28:12 συστρεπω sustrephō is used of gathering up a bundle of sticks and of men combining in Matthew 17:22. Seneca says that there was nothing on which the Romans looked with such jealousy as a tumultuous meeting. [source]
Acts 28:1Was called [καλειται] Present passive indicative retained in indirect discourse. Melita (Μελιτη Melitē). Not Μιλετενη Miletenē as only B reads, a clerical error, but retained in the text of Westcott and Hort because of B. Page notes that the island was Malta as is shown from the name, the location, the presence of a ship from Alexandria bound for Rome wintering there (Acts 28:11), and the mention of Syracuse as the next stop after leaving (Acts 28:12). [source]
Acts 28:1Melita [Μελιτη] Not Μιλετενη Miletenē as only B reads, a clerical error, but retained in the text of Westcott and Hort because of B. Page notes that the island was Malta as is shown from the name, the location, the presence of a ship from Alexandria bound for Rome wintering there (Acts 28:11), and the mention of Syracuse as the next stop after leaving (Acts 28:12). [source]
Acts 28:2The barbarians [οι βαρβαροι] The Greeks called all men “barbarians” who did not speak Greek (Romans 1:14), not “barbarians” in our sense of rude and uncivilized, but simply “foreign folk.” Diodorus Siculus (Acts 28:12) says that it was a colony of the Phoenicians and so their language was Punic (Page). The word originally meant an uncouth repetition In Colossians 3:11 Paul couples it with Scythian as certainly not Christian. These are (with Acts 28:4 below) the only N.T. instances. [source]
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: Συράκουσαι
Sense: a large maritime city of Sicily, having an excellent harbour and surrounded by a 4 mile (23 km) wall.
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἡμέρα
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
Greek Commentary for Acts 28:12
First aorist passive participle of καταγω katagō to go down to land, just the opposite of ανηχτημεν anēchthēmen in Acts 28:11 from αναγω anagō go up to sea. [source]
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. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 28:12
Genitive absolute with αιτιος aitios common adjective (cf. αιτια aitia cause) though in N.T. only here and Hebrews 5:9; Luke 23:4, Luke 23:14, Luke 23:22. And as touching it (περι ου peri hou). “Concerning which.” But what? No clear antecedent, only the general idea. Give an account of this concourse Rationem reddere. They will have to explain matters to the proconsul. Συστροπη Sustrophē (from συν sun together, στρεπω strephō to turn) is a late word for a conspiracy (Acts 23:12) and a disorderly riot as here (Polybius). In Acts 28:12 συστρεπω sustrephō is used of gathering up a bundle of sticks and of men combining in Matthew 17:22. Seneca says that there was nothing on which the Romans looked with such jealousy as a tumultuous meeting. [source]
Rationem reddere. They will have to explain matters to the proconsul. Συστροπη Sustrophē (from συν sun together, στρεπω strephō to turn) is a late word for a conspiracy (Acts 23:12) and a disorderly riot as here (Polybius). In Acts 28:12 συστρεπω sustrephō is used of gathering up a bundle of sticks and of men combining in Matthew 17:22. Seneca says that there was nothing on which the Romans looked with such jealousy as a tumultuous meeting. [source]
Present passive indicative retained in indirect discourse. Melita (Μελιτη Melitē). Not Μιλετενη Miletenē as only B reads, a clerical error, but retained in the text of Westcott and Hort because of B. Page notes that the island was Malta as is shown from the name, the location, the presence of a ship from Alexandria bound for Rome wintering there (Acts 28:11), and the mention of Syracuse as the next stop after leaving (Acts 28:12). [source]
Not Μιλετενη Miletenē as only B reads, a clerical error, but retained in the text of Westcott and Hort because of B. Page notes that the island was Malta as is shown from the name, the location, the presence of a ship from Alexandria bound for Rome wintering there (Acts 28:11), and the mention of Syracuse as the next stop after leaving (Acts 28:12). [source]
The Greeks called all men “barbarians” who did not speak Greek (Romans 1:14), not “barbarians” in our sense of rude and uncivilized, but simply “foreign folk.” Diodorus Siculus (Acts 28:12) says that it was a colony of the Phoenicians and so their language was Punic (Page). The word originally meant an uncouth repetition In Colossians 3:11 Paul couples it with Scythian as certainly not Christian. These are (with Acts 28:4 below) the only N.T. instances. [source]