4484. Rhégion
Lexical Summary
Rhégion: Rhegium

Original Word: Ῥήγιον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: Rhégion
Pronunciation: HRAY-gee-on
Phonetic Spelling: (hrayg'-ee-on)
KJV: Rhegium
NASB: Rhegium
Word Origin: [of Latin origin]

1. Rhegium, a place in Italy

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Rhegium.

Of Latin origin; Rhegium, a place in Italy -- Rhegium.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Latin origin
Definition
Rhegium, a city in southern Italy
NASB Translation
Rhegium (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4484: Ῥήγιον

Ῥήγιον, Ρ᾽ηγιου, τό, Rhegium (now Reggio), a town and promontory at the extremity of the Bruttian peninsula, opposite Messana (Messina) in Sicily; (it seems to have got its name from the Greek verb ῤήγνυμι, because at that point Sicily was believed to have been 'rent away' from Italy; so Pliny observes, hist. nat. 3, 8 (14); (Diodorus Siculus 4, 85; Strabo 6, 258; Philo de incorrupt. mund. § 26; others. See Pape, Eigennamen, under the word)): Acts 28:13.

Topical Lexicon
Geographical Setting

Rhegium was a busy harbor city located on the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, facing the city of Messina across the narrow Strait of Messina. Its position made it a natural first landing-point for vessels rounding Sicily on their way northward along the western coast of Italy.

Biblical Occurrence and Context

Acts 28:13 records the sole New Testament mention: “From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. After one day a south wind came up, and the next day we reached Puteoli”. The verse stands within Luke’s detailed narrative of Paul’s voyage from Malta to Rome (Acts 27:1—28:16). Rhegium served as the final intermediate stop before Paul entered the Bay of Naples, marking the near completion of his long-promised journey to testify in Rome (Acts 19:21; Acts 23:11).

Historical Background

Founded as a Greek colony centuries before Christ, Rhegium retained strong Hellenistic cultural features even under Roman control. By the first century it enjoyed status as a free city allied with Rome, possessed a reliable fresh-water supply, and offered a sheltered anchorage protected from prevailing western gales. Its prosperity rested on maritime trade flowing through the strait, and the port was well known to Roman merchants and military transports alike.

Strategic Importance in First-Century Maritime Travel

1. Waypoint between Sicily and the Tyrrhenian Sea: Ships sailing from Malta or Crete commonly hugged the Italian shore after rounding Cape Pachynus. Rhegium lay at the natural pause before a favorable south or southwest wind could speed vessels to Puteoli, the principal port for Rome.
2. Safe harbor: The city’s breakwater and proximity to the strait made it an ideal refuge while awaiting a change in weather, exactly the circumstance Luke describes.
3. Intersection of cultures: Travelers from the eastern Mediterranean, Greece, Sicily, and Rome converged there, providing fertile ground for the spread of news and—after Pentecost—the gospel.

Theological and Ministry Significance

• God’s providence in mission: Each stage of Paul’s voyage, including the brief stop at Rhegium, illustrates the sovereign orchestration of circumstances to fulfill the Lord’s assurance, “You must testify in Rome” (Acts 23:11). Even contrary winds ultimately served divine purposes.
• Validation of Luke’s historical reliability: Nautical details such as the wait for a south wind align with known sailing practices, strengthening confidence in the accuracy of Scripture.
• Foreshadowing of gospel penetration into Italy: While Acts does not record evangelistic activity in Rhegium itself, Paul’s presence would inevitably have drawn attention to the message he carried. The stop anticipates the later flourishing of Christian communities all along the Italian coast.

Lessons for Believers Today

1. Trust amidst delays: Paul’s progress depended on variables he could not control, yet he remained steadfast. Believers are reminded that temporary pauses—like a day anchored at Rhegium—may be integral to God’s larger timetable.
2. Faithful witness in transient settings: Ports, workplaces, schools, and travel hubs parallel ancient Rhegium, offering brief but meaningful opportunities to reflect Christ to diverse audiences.
3. Confidence in Scripture’s harmony: The seamless fit between geography, history, and Luke’s narrative encourages Christians to rely on the Bible’s testimony in every area of life.

Related Scriptures and Themes

Acts 19:21; Acts 23:11; Acts 27:1—28:16; Romans 1:9-15; Philippians 1:12-14.

Forms and Transliterations
Ρηγιον Ῥήγιον Region Rēgion Rhegion Rhēgion Rhḗgion
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 28:13 N-ANS
GRK: κατηντήσαμεν εἰς Ῥήγιον καὶ μετὰ
NAS: and arrived at Rhegium, and a day
KJV: and came to Rhegium: and after
INT: we arrived at Rhegium and after

Strong's Greek 4484
1 Occurrence


Ῥήγιον — 1 Occ.

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