Rhegium
Summary
Rhegium was an Italian seaport city at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina where Paul's ship stopped for a day on his voyage to Rome.
☩Location and History
Rhegium (modern Reggio di Calabria) was located on the coast of southern Italy, just at the entrance to the Strait of Messina, about six miles across from the Sicilian city of Messana (Messina). Originally a Greek colony founded by Chalcidians, the city enjoyed great prosperity in the fifth century BC before being destroyed by Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, in 387 BC. Though partially restored, it never fully recovered. During the Punic Wars, Rhegium remained faithful to its alliance with Rome and subsequently received advantages from Augustus that maintained its importance throughout the Roman Empire.
☩Paul's Visit
Paul touched at Rhegium on his voyage from Malta to Rome after the shipwreck, sailing from Syracuse. The ship had to wait there for a day for a favorable south wind to carry it through the straits northward. Once the wind changed, the ship made the 180-mile run to Puteoli in about twenty-four hours. The mention of the intermediate position of Rhegium, the waiting for the right wind, and the timing of the voyage to Puteoli all accord with geographical accuracy. By curious coincidence, the figures on Rhegium's coins were the "twin brothers" Castor and Pollux, the very deities whose name Paul's ship bore.
Related Verses1 mention
Acts· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Rhegium," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Rhegium," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Rhegium," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Rhegium," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).