After a long, wearisome, and changeful journey, through chapters 21-28 of Acts, during a period of two long years, for which time he had seen few, if any, brethren, he at last finds himself approaching Rome (chap. 28:13-15). He had some time before written to the saints there, expressing his desires toward them, and his prayer that he might come to them prosperously and with joy, and that they might be refreshed and comforted together (see Rom. 1:10; 15:32).
They met him on his journey, some at Appii Forum, a distance of fifty miles, and some at the Three Taverns, a distance of thirty miles.
This was their answer to his letter, and this was also the Lord's answer to his prayer. For now, on seeing them, he was refreshed, just as he had prayed-refreshed, let me say, by their love-a richer refreshment than that which gift or communicated knowledge provides for the soul. When he saw them, we read, "he thanked God, and took courage."
This was, indeed, receiving a lovely answer both to his letter and to his prayer.
When he wrote his letter, we may be sure that he little thought he was to see them as Rome's prisoner. He made request that he might have a prosperous journey to them (Rom. 1:10), and had told them to pray that he might reach them with joy (Rom. 15:32). But it is beautiful and blessed to see, that though the hand of the Spirit of God had given his journey to them and arrival among them this character, he does not treat it as anything less than a full answer to his desires. He thanks God, as owning the answer of his request.
All the ends, I may say, of the mercy he looked for, are fulfilled to perfection. He had prayed
that he might come to the saints at Rome;
to be comforted in them;
to have some fruit among them.
These had been his desires (Rom. 1:10-13), and these are, each and all of them, answered. (See Acts 28:15-24.) He sees them, he takes courage, and, through preaching, gathers fruit there as well as among other Gentiles.