Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

28:1 Malta was on the main route from Myra (27:5) to Rome. God's providence had brought them through the storm and back on course. The most famous archaeological remains on Malta are prehistoric or Phoenician; however, Malta also thrived under the Romans, and residential villas used in the NT period have been excavated.

28:2 In Greek the native people are designated "barbarians" (barbaroi), a word that did not carry negative connotation but simply referred in a general way to those who did not speak Greek. No doubt the island also had a number of educated people who did speak Greek.

28:4 Greco-Roman lore spoke of fugitives who escaped shipwreck only to be killed by poisonous snakes. Cf. Mark 16:18. Justice (Gk. dikē) in Greek can refer to justice or to the name of the goddess who dispenses justice.

28:6 When the Lystrans took Paul as a god, he protested vigorously (cf. 14:14-15). The situation differs here, as no attempt to worship him is related. Throughout Acts miracles provide an opportunity for witness, and likely Paul also witnessed to the Maltese.

28:7 Publius is called chief man (Gk. prōtos) of the island. The term has been found on Maltese inscriptions and was probably a formal title.

28:8 The description of Publius's father as having fever and dysentery fits the symptoms of an infection caused by goat's milk called "Malta fever." The coming of the whole region with their sick (v. 9) is reminiscent of what happened after Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-41).

28:10 Travelers on ancient ships had to provide their own meals. The hospitable Maltese people equipped Paul and his shipmates for the remainder of their voyage.