In This Way We Came to Rome

“In this richly-illustrated book, Thompson and Wilson―two first-rate scholars and trustworthy guides―escort us along the 150 miles of the Via Campana Consularis and the famous Via Appia that Paul, along with his companions, fellow-prisoners, and guards, traveled from the port of Puteoli to the city of Rome where he would await his trial before the imperial courts. Through their own painstaking―and physical―retracing of Paul's likeliest steps and their immersion in the archaeology of these ancient roads and their supporting infrastructure, they laid bare for us the lived realities of the wearying week-long journey that we otherwise pass over in second as a mere four verses in Acts 28:13–16. In so doing, they have also given students of the early Christian mission and the Roman world a valuable window into travel on Rome’s famous system of roads.”

David A. deSilva

“Glen L. Thompson and Mark Wilson deserve the highest praise for this book. It draws judiciously on careful, patient, detailed, literary and on-the-ground research to guide readers through Paul’s route to Rome. It engages with a huge range of scholarly research in a number of languages and, for the first time, makes key findings of Italian scholars accessible in English. It is sumptuously illustrated with photographs and maps which enrich the text. Scholars, students and pastors will find this an invaluable resource in engaging with the Acts account of this journey. Bravo!”

Steve Walton