About 900 years after the Appian Way was built, Byzantine historian Procopius described it as “marvelous.” Concerning the slabs that formed its surface, he wrote: “Despite the great amount of time that has elapsed and the many carriages that have passed over them day after day, their composure has not in any way been disturbed, nor have they lost their smooth finish.”

Even so, Christian evangelizers planned and undertook many long-distance journeys. The apostle Paul, like his contemporaries, tended to travel by sea when he was going eastward, to take advantage of the prevailing winds. (Acts 14:25, 26; 20:3; 21:1-3) In the Mediterranean, these blow from the west during the summer months. When Paul traveled westward, however, he often went overland, using the Roman road system. Following this pattern, Paul organized his second and third missionary journeys. (Acts 15:36-41; 16:6-8; 17:1, 10; 18:22, 23; 19:1)a In about 59 C.E., Paul traveled along the Appian Way to Rome and met fellow believers at the busy Appii Forum, or Marketplace of Appius, 46 miles [74 km] southeast of Rome. Others awaited him nine miles [14 km] closer to Rome at the rest area of Three Taverns. (Acts 28:13-15) About 60 C.E., Paul was able to say that the good news had been preached “in all the world” as then known. (Colossians 1:6, 23) The road system had a role in making that possible.

[Picture on page 17]

Paul met fellow believers at the busy Appii Forum, or Marketplace of Appius