Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
the father of Publius lay sick of a fever—"fevers." The word was often thus used in the plural number, probably to express recurring attacks.
and of a bloody flux—"of dysentery." (The medical accuracy of our historian's style has been observed here.)
to whom Paul entered in, and prayed—thereby precluding the supposition that any charm resided in himself.
and laid his hands on him, and healed him—Thus, as our Lord rewarded Peter for the use of his boat (Luke 5:3-4, etc.), so Paul richly repays Publius for his hospitality. Observe the fulfilment here of two things predicted in Mark 16:18 —the "taking up serpents," and "recovering of the sick by laying hands on them."
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 prætor 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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