Publius Πόπλιος
Chief official of Malta who hosted Paul
Who is Publius in the Bible?
Publius was the chief official of Malta who encountered the Apostle Paul after Paul's shipwreck on the island during his voyage to Rome (Acts 28:7). Known as "the leading man of the island," Publius extended generous hospitality to Paul and his companions, hosting them for three days. While they stayed with him, Paul learned that Publius's father was suffering from fever and dysentery, so Paul visited him, prayed, and laid hands on him, and the man was healed (Acts 28:7-8). This miraculous healing demonstrated God's power and likely influenced Publius and the island's population toward faith. Publius's role in Scripture illustrates how divine healing and Christian hospitality can open hearts to the gospel message.
Biography
Publius was the chief official of the island of Malta, as mentioned in Act.28.7-8. He is described as the "leading man of the island" (Act.28.7), which suggests that he held a position of authority, possibly as a Roman official or a local leader. When Paul and his companions were shipwrecked on Malta, Publius welcomed them and hosted them for three days, showing generous hospitality. During their stay, Paul learned that Publius' father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul visited the father, prayed for him, and laid his hands on him, resulting in the father's healing (Act.28.8). This event likely had a significant impact on Publius and the local population, as it demonstrated the power of the God that Paul served. The hospitality and kindness shown by Publius to Paul and his companions is a notable example of the welcome and support that the early Christians sometimes received from non-believers during their travels.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentActs 2 verses
- Acts 28:7
"Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days."
Study Acts → - Acts 28:8
"The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man."
Study Acts →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Πόπλιος |
Encyclopedia Article
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain) Publius
Ac 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 Ac 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 "Ac 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" (Ac 28:8). The exactitude of the medical terms here employed forms part of the evidence that the writer of Ac was a physician. Tradition relates that Publius was the first bishop of Malta and that he afterward became bishop of Athens.
C. M. Kerr
pu'-denz, pu'-dens (Poudes, literally, "bashful" (2Ti 4:21)):
1Faithful to Paul
One of the Christians in Rome who remained loyal to Paul during his second and last im