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Acts 28:7

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 28:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and entertained us three days courteously.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and entertained us three days courteously.
Acts 28:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 28

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4And when the barbarians saw the [venomous] creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live.
5Howbeit he shook off the creature into the fire, and took no harm.
6But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss came to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and entertained us three days courteously.
8And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him.
9And when this was done, the rest also that had diseases in the island came, and were cured:
10who also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed.
← Acts 28:6Acts 28:8 →
← Full Chapter 28 Acts Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, etc.] Or “the first man of the island”; so the governor of Melita used to be called, as appears by an inscription mentioned by Bochart, wherein a Roman knight is called prwtov melitaiwn, “the first of the Melitians”; for this island was under the Roman government, and the very name of this chief man shows it: it was first in the hands of the Africans, when Dido built Carthage, which was eight or nine hundred years before the time of Christ: Battus was king of this island, from whom it was taken by Hiarbas king of Lybia, or of the Getulians, and who also conquered Carthage; and it continued under the power of the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“possessions of the chief man--"the first man." of the island--He would hardly be so styled in the lifetime of his father, if his distinction was that of the family. But it is now ascertained that this was the proper official title of the Maltese representative of the Roman prÃ&brvbrtor to Sicily, to whose province Malta belonged; two inscriptions having been discovered in the island, one in Greek, the other in Latin, containing the same words which Luke here employs. who received us--of Paul's company, but doubtless including the "courteous" Julius. and lodged us three days courteously--till proper winter lodgings could be obtained for them.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In the same quarters - In that place, or that part of the island, Possessions - Property. His place of residence. The chief man - Greek: the first man. Probably he was the governor of the island, return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The chief man of the island - In wealth if not in power also. Three days - The first three days of our stay on the island. Acts 28:11”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the chief: Act 13:7, Act 18:12, Act 23:24 who: Act 28:2; Mat 10:40, Mat 10:41; Luk 19:6-9 Acts 28:8”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification