Publius is a biblical figure mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the Acts of the Apostles. He is recognized as the chief official of the island of Malta during the time of the Apostle Paul's shipwreck on the island. The account of Publius is found in Acts 28:7-10.

Biblical Account:

In Acts 28:7, the narrative describes the aftermath of a shipwreck that brought Paul and his companions to the island of Malta. The passage states: "Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days" . This introduction to Publius highlights his position of authority and his generous hospitality towards Paul and the shipwrecked crew.

The account continues with a significant event involving Publius' family. Acts 28:8 records, "The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after praying, placed his hands on him and healed him" . This miraculous healing not only demonstrates the power of God working through Paul but also serves as a testament to the compassion and faith of the early Christian community.

Following this healing, Acts 28:9-10 notes the impact of the miracle: "After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well. The people of the island honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail" . The healing of Publius' father led to a broader ministry on the island, resulting in many others being healed and the islanders showing great respect and generosity towards Paul and his companions.

Historical and Cultural Context:

Publius' role as the "chief official" suggests he held a significant administrative position, likely appointed by the Roman authorities, as Malta was under Roman control during this period. His ability to offer hospitality and his estate's capacity to accommodate Paul and his companions indicate his wealth and influence on the island.

The mention of Publius' father suffering from "fever and dysentery" aligns with known historical accounts of diseases prevalent in the Mediterranean region. The healing performed by Paul would have been seen as a powerful sign of divine intervention, furthering the spread of the Christian message.

Theological Significance:

The account of Publius in Acts underscores several key themes in Christian theology. First, it highlights the importance of hospitality and kindness, as demonstrated by Publius' reception of Paul and his companions. Second, it illustrates the power of prayer and faith in God's ability to heal and perform miracles. Third, the narrative reflects the early Christian mission's impact, as the healing of Publius' father opened doors for further ministry and witness on the island of Malta.

Publius' account, though brief, serves as a reminder of the transformative power of the Gospel and the role of individuals in God's plan to spread His message of salvation and healing to all nations.Publius

common

Publius

the chief man --probably the governor-of Melita, who received and lodged St. Paul and his companions on the occasion of their being shipwrecked off that island. (Acts 28:7) (A.D.55.)

Publius

The prefect of Melita when Paul was shipwrecked on that island A. D. 60, Acts 28:7-9. Publius received the apostle and his company into his house, and entertained them with great humanity. The governor's father, dangerously sick, and many others ill of various diseases, were miraculously healed; and their hospitable care of Paul and his friends continued through the three wintry months of their stay, and furnished them abundant supplies on their departure.

"the chief man of the island" of Malta (Acts 28:7), who courteously entertained Paul and his shipwrecked companions for three days, till they found a more permanent place of residence; for they remained on the island for three months, till the stormy season had passed. The word here rendered "chief man" (protos) is supposed by some to be properly a Maltese term, the official title of the governor. PUBLIUS

pub'-li-us (Poplios, from the Latin praenomen Publius, derived from populus, "popular"; according to Ramsay it is the Greek form of the Latin nomen Popilius; the Greek title meaning "first," applied to Publius in Acts 28:7, was an official one, and has been found on an inscription from the island of Gaulus near Malta (compare Bockh, Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum, number 5,754)): Publius held office under the governor of Sicily. As the leading official in Malta, he was responsible for any Roman soldiers and their prisoners who might land there, but the account in Acts 28:7 implies that he displayed more than ordinary solicitude for Paul and his shipwrecked company, for, according to the writer, he "received us, and lodged us three days courteously" (the King James Version). The Apocryphal "Acts of Paul" (see APOCRYPHAL ACTS, sec. B, I) states also that "he did for them many acts of great kindness and charity" (compare Budge, Centendings of the Apostles, II, 605). On this occasion Paul miraculously healed the father of Publius, who "lay sick of fever and dysentery" (Acts 28:8). The exactitude of the medical terms here employed forms part of the evidence that the writer of Acts was a physician. Tradition relates that Publius was the first bishop of Malta and that he afterward became bishop of Athens.

C. M. Kerr

4196. Poplios -- Publius, an inhabitant of Malta
... Publius, an inhabitant of Malta. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Poplios Phonetic Spelling: (pop'-lee-os) Short Definition: Publius Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4196.htm - 6k

Acts XXVIII
... (7) "In the regions around that place were the estates of the chief man of the island,
Publius by name, who ... Publius was not without a reward for his kindness. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxviii.htm

After the Wreck
... changed their minds, and said that he was a god.7. In the same quarters were
possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius: who received ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/after the wreck.htm

The Honors that were Paid the Jews; and the Leagues that were Made ...
... 9. Now after Caius was slain, when Marcus Antonius and Publius Dolabella were consuls,
they both assembled the senate, and introduced Hyrcanus's ambassadors ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 the honors that.htm

Acts xxviii. 1
... "In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name
was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily liv acts xxviii 1.htm

Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth, and the Epistles which He Wrote.
... Gospel, which he accuses them of esteeming lightly, as if they had almost apostatized
from the faith since the martyrdom of their ruler Publius, [1247] which ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxiii dionysius bishop of corinth.htm

The End of Paul's Long Journey
... he was a god. On the part of the island where we landed there was an estate
belonging to Publius the governor. He welcomed us and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the end of pauls long.htm

What Things were done by Agrippa at Jerusalem when He was Returned ...
... his country. So he came without delay to Publius Petronius, who was then
president of Syria, and accused the people of Doris. Nor ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 what things were.htm

The Bishops in Jerusalem.
... 2. After him the succession in the episcopate was: first Cassianus; after him Publius;
then Maximus; [1532] following them Julian; then Gaius; [1533] after him ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xii the bishops in jerusalem.htm

Serapion on the Heresy of the Phrygians.
... "??lius Publius Julius, [1659] bishop of Debeltum, a colony of Thrace. ... [1659]
??lius Publius Julius is also an otherwise unknown personage. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xix serapion on the heresy.htm

Those Days it was Near Twelve O'Clock by the Great Dial of History ...
... her!". So spoke the Lady Lucia"she that was widow of the Praefect Publius,
who fell with half his cohort in the desert wars. She ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 2 those days it.htm

Publius (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PUBLIUS. pub'-li-us (Poplios, from the Latin
praenomen Publius, derived from populus, "popular"; according ...
/p/publius.htm - 9k

Flux (26 Occurrences)
... fluks (puretos kai dusenteria, literally "fever and dysentery"): The disease by
which the father of Publius was afflicted in Malta (Acts 28:8). the Revised ...
/f/flux.htm - 16k

Dysentery (1 Occurrence)
... and American) uses this word in place of the phrase "bloody flux" of the King James
Version to describe the disease by which the father of Publius was affected ...
/d/dysentery.htm - 8k

Bloody (19 Occurrences)
... fluks (puretos kai dusenteria, literally "fever and dysentery"): The disease by
which the father of Publius was afflicted in Malta (Acts 28:8). the Revised ...
/b/bloody.htm - 17k

Pudens (1 Occurrence)

/p/pudens.htm - 9k

Sick (117 Occurrences)
... of Herod was similar, as in both cases there is reference to the presence of worms
(compare Acts 12:23 and 2 Maccabees 9:9). The disease of Publius' father was ...
/s/sick.htm - 44k

Quarters (17 Occurrences)
... Acts 28:7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island,
whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. ...
/q/quarters.htm - 11k

Visited (40 Occurrences)
... them, and departed. (See RSV). Acts 28:8 It happened that the father of
Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in ...
/v/visited.htm - 18k

Kindly (57 Occurrences)
... Acts 28:7 Now near that place there was some land, the property of the chief man
of the island, who was named Publius; who very kindly took us into his house ...
/k/kindly.htm - 24k

Nearby (14 Occurrences)
... Acts 28:7 Now near that place there was some land, the property of the chief man
of the island, who was named Publius; who very kindly took us into his house ...
/n/nearby.htm - 10k

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