Lexical Summary taberné: Tavern, inn, or shop Original Word: ταβέρνη Strong's Exhaustive Concordance taverns. Plural of Latin origin; huts or wooden-walled buildings; Tabernoe -- taverns. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Latin origin Definition "hut," a tavern, spec. Treis Tabernai, "Three Taverns," a stopping place on the Appian Way NASB Translation Inns (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4999: ΤαβέρναιΤαβέρναι, ταβερνῶν, αἱ (a Latin word (cf. Buttmann, 17 (15))), taverns: τρεῖς Ταβέρναι (genitive Τριῶν Ταβερνῶν), Three Taverns, the name of an inn or halting-place on the Appian way between Pome and The Market of Appius (see Ἀππιος); it was ten Roman miles distant from the latter place and thirty-three from Rome (Cicero, ad Attic. 2, 10 (12)) (cf. B. D., under the phrase Three Taverns): See Acts 28:15. STRONGS NT 4999: τρεῖς Ταβέρναιτρεῖς Ταβέρναι, see Ταβέρναι. Topical Lexicon Three Taverns (Strong’s Greek 4999, Ταβερνῶν) Geographical Setting Three Taverns lay on the famed Appian Way approximately thirty-three miles (fifty-three kilometers) southeast of Rome, west of Forum Appii. The name, literally “Three Shops/Inns,” points to a small settlement of travelers’ stalls where food, lodging, and supplies could be secured. Surrounded by low marshlands drained by the Romans, the site benefited from steady traffic between the capital and the southern ports, making it a natural gathering place. Historical Background By the first century, the Appian Way was Rome’s most strategic military and commercial road. Inns (tabernae) clustered at regular intervals, and Three Taverns became a recognized milestone on official itineraries such as the Itinerarium Antonini and the Tabula Peutingeriana. Roman postal relays and merchants frequented the place, so news traveled quickly—explaining how believers in Rome could be alerted to Paul’s approach while he was still many miles away. New Testament Occurrence Acts 28:15 records the sole biblical mention: “The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and was encouraged.” Luke’s wording joins Forum Appii and Three Taverns, showing two different parties of Roman believers who walked some ten miles apart to intercept Paul’s entourage. Path of Paul’s Journey After wintering on Malta (Acts 28:11), the apostle landed at Puteoli, then proceeded north on the Appian Way under military custody. Forum Appii sat roughly forty-three miles from Rome; Three Taverns, a further ten miles closer. Because official prisoners usually marched on foot alongside soldiers, the distance covered and the rough marshland made encouragement essential. The believers’ decision to leave the capital and meet Paul on the road highlights both their eagerness and the growing reputation of the apostle among Roman Christians. Christian Fellowship and Encouragement Luke links Paul’s reaction—“thanked God and was encouraged”—directly to the meeting at Three Taverns. The verse echoes his earlier longing, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:11-12). The scene at Three Taverns fulfills that mutual encouragement: the Roman believers receive Paul’s personal testimony, and Paul receives tangible evidence that his epistle had borne fruit. Mission Strategy and Roman Roads The stop illustrates how the providence of God utilized Roman infrastructure. Roads like the Appian Way, lined with way-stations, enabled the spread of the gospel (compare Galatians 4:4, “the fullness of time”). Three Taverns stands as a microcosm of countless unnamed locales where the faith was shared amid ordinary travel. Consequently, the early church’s growth did not depend solely on synagogues or urban centers but also on transient hubs such as inns, ports, and marketplaces. Spiritual Lessons 1. God answers long-held desires in unexpected ways. Paul entered Rome not as a free missionary but as a prisoner, yet still received the fellowship he had prayed for (Romans 15:30-32). Related Biblical Themes • The ministry of encouragement: Barnabas (Acts 11:23-24); Onesiphorus (2 Timothy 1:16-17). Forms and Transliterations Ταβερνων Ταβερνῶν Tabernon Tabernôn Tabernōn Tabernō̂nLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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