Because Jesus said this, a rumor spread among the believers that the disciple Jesus loved wouldn’t die. But Jesus didn’t say he wouldn’t die. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what does that matter to you?”
The brothers and sisters there had heard we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God for them, and they encouraged him.
They replied, “We haven’t received any letters from Judea about you. And none of our people who have come here from Judea has reported or said anything bad about you.
Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that I’ve planned many times to visit you. But until now, I’ve been kept from coming. My work has produced results among the other Gentiles, and in the same way, I want to see results among you.