Italy · The modern Republic of Italy, the Apennine Peninsula extending into the Mediterranean; the heart of the Roman Empire, with the city of Rome in its center.
The homeland of the Roman Empire, where Paul had long wanted to preach in Rome and to which he was finally sent as a prisoner by ship, surviving a shipwreck on the way and reaching Rome; the closing words of Hebrews, in which 'the brothers in Italy' send greetings, show that a Christian community existed there early on.
First mentioned in the Bible
where he found a Jew named Aqʹui·la, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy together with his wife Pris·cilʹla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. He went to them,— Acts 18:2
Background
Italy was the homeland of the Roman Empire, and Rome its capital, the political center of the Western world and a goal of Paul's mission for many years. 1) Claudius' expulsion edict. In Corinth Paul met Aquila, a Jew native to Pontus, and his wife Priscilla, who had 'recently come from Italy because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome' (Ac 18:2), showing that well before Paul arrived, Rome already had a sizable community of Jews and believers, at one point expelled by the emperor. 2) Paul sent to Italy. After appealing to Caesar in Caesarea, Paul was determined to witness in Rome; the record tells of an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and of Paul and other prisoners being handed over to Julius, an army officer of the Augustan band, to set sail (Ac 27:1, 6). Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was on the same ship (Ac 27:2); the vessel was caught in a storm and wrecked on Malta, but all escaped safely, and Paul eventually reached Rome, where he preached boldly for two years in his own rented house. 3) The brothers in Italy. Hebrews closes with the words, 'Give my greetings to all those taking the lead among you and to all the holy ones. The brothers in Italy send you their greetings' (Heb 13:24), indicating that believers in Italy—most likely Rome—already maintained close fellowship with the churches elsewhere.
Related Scriptures (New World Translation)
where he found a Jew named Aqʹui·la, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy together with his wife Pris·cilʹla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. He went to them,— Acts 18:2
When it was decided that we would sail to Italy, they handed Paul and some other prisoners over to an army officer named Julius, of the Augustan band.— Acts 27:1
And going aboard a boat from Ad·ra·myʹti·um that was about to sail to places along the coast of Asia, we set sail. Ar·is·tarʹchus a Mac·e·doʹni·an from Thes·sa·lo·niʹca was with us.— Acts 27:2