"The brothers there (in Rome) had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius (Appii Forum) and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged. When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him." (Acts 28:15-16, NIV)

The Appian Way (Latin: Via Appia) was the common name given to ancient Rome's most important road. It was paved by a Roman consul named Appius Claudius around 312 B.C.

Toward the end of his third missionary journey (54 to 58 A.D.) the apostle Paul desired to be in Jerusalem to celebrate the day of Pentecost (Acts 20:16, which occurred in May). As he approached the city a prophet named Agabus warned Paul that he would be (falsely) arrested by Jews in Jerusalem and given into the "hands of the Gentiles" (Romans) for judgment (Acts 21:10-11). God later told Paul his arrest would be used to spread the Gospel in Rome (Acts 23:11). After his arrest and subsequent two-year imprisonment in Judea, Paul (with other prisoners) were given over to a Roman centurion to take to Rome (Acts 27:1). After a shipwreck on the stormy Mediterranean sea brought Paul to the island of Malta, he sailed as prisoner to the Italian coastal city of Puteoli (170 miles from Rome). It is from Puteoli that the Appian Way was used to bring Paul to Rome.

The Appii Forum, or Market of Appius, was a town on the Appian Way about 52 miles from Rome. It was near the sea, and was a famous resort for sailors, peddlers, merchants and alike. The town of Three Taverns, also on the Appian Way, was about thirty miles from Rome. Zealous Christians from Rome, hearing about Paul's arrival in Italy, were willing to travel a significant distance on the Appian Way to meet and fellowship with the apostle!