Roman legionaries tramped into their rest spot many miles outside Rome having already marched nearly 100 miles (160km) from Puteoli. The squalid town of Appii Forum thrived on traffic heading to and from the most powerful city on earth. High priced taverns, rioting riff-raff, and a military escort on the way to a trial before a capricious pagan dictator are hardly the attractions advertised in brochures for restful Christian bed and breakfasts. It was here that the Apostle Paul “thanked God and took courage” (Acts 28:1515And 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. (Acts 28:15)).
Why? There may be many reasons but here’s one. Hidden among the hardships were the tokens of God’s love and care for him. Roman custom dictated that important people were met outside the walls of town by friends and escorted inside. The more important the visitor, the further out the escort came. Paul was being met 51 miles (82Km) outside town—a very unusual distance. And the party swelled even more 33 miles (53km) from Rome in the unsavory sounding town of the three taverns. Paul’s desire had long been to love and serve his brethren. Now they were showing love and honor for him being unashamed to be associated with “the prisoner of the Lord.” With the keen eye of faith Paul saw past the squalor to the God he loved and served. He was receiving the welcome of an emperor from the one who loved him. Happiness doesn’t come from a freshly decorated villa but from eyes tuned to see the king in all His beauty.