Acts chapter 28

vs 11

So there was another ship that had thought twice about sailing during the winter storms, but this one had wisely decided to winter in a port, rather than braving the seas. I don't know who Castor and Pollux are. Apparently they are the sons of Zeus, and patrons of sailors and ships, so they'd be a popular choice for a boat.

vs 12

Woo. Back to the travel itinerary, although this time it's a prison travel itinerary.

vs 13

The wording sounds positive, so I'll assume a south wind was good.

vs 14

This would tend to suggest that the incarceration which Paul was under during travel was not as harsh as could originally be believed, with chains and whatnot. But then you never know. They might have put him in chains, but let him tool about the town in them - the chains would mark him out as a criminal after all.

And now, with very little aplomb, Luke announces that Rome has been reached.

vs 15

Just think of Paul's epistle to the Romans, where he states he longs to visit them. I would assume that was written before this. Paul finally does get to visit, although not in the way he probably intended. But he still finds their presence, and their willingness to come to him and greet him, a great encouragement.

vs 16

They assigned a soldier, full time, to live in his house with him. That's surprising to us, but human capital has never been worth as much as it is in the western world now.

vs 17

Paul is taking the bull by the horns, and getting in contact with the Jewish religious leaders of Rome! Defending himself before them even before his case gets heard anywhere else.

He begins with his arrest by the Jews.

vs 18

He then points out that the Romans couldn't find anything worth of death that Paul had done (which sounds a lot like Christ - really, Agrippa couldn't find anything worth keeping Paul in prison for!).

vs 19

I guess Paul is saying here that he could have made a counter-charge against the Jewish leaders, but rather than do that, he is prepared to appeal to Caesar himself to be declared either fit to be released or worthy of death.

vs 20

So surely, if he is there in his own house, and talking about chains, he isn't being metaphorical. Which says to me that even though he was allowed to live in his own house, he still had a chain to remind him he was a prisoner.