Acts 28:1
in Acts 28Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita.
KJV
And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
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This verse in Acts 28
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
They knew - Either from their former acquaintance with the island, or from the information of the inhabitants. Was called Melita - Now called “Malta.” It was celebrated formerly for producing large quantities of honey, and is supposed to have been called Melita from the Greek word signifying honey. It is about 20 miles in length from east to west, and 12 miles in width from north to south, and about 60 miles in circumference. It is about 60 miles from the coast of Sicily.
This site's exposition
the island was called Melita
on Acts 28:1-2
When they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita, modern Malta, and Smith's study of the currents and soundings of chapter 27 independently confirms the landing there. The barbarous people shewed us no little kindness, Luke's own word for the islanders, barbaros, meaning simply non-Greek speaking rather than uncivilized, and their kindness in kindling a fire for two hundred and seventy-six soaked strangers because of the present rain and the cold is stated plainly as an act of ordinary human decency the text does not need to theologize.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"But the barbarians showed us no small courtesy," etc. Everyone being now on the shore, as terrible cold was upon them and they were weakened by long fasting, the barbarian inhabitants of the place supplied them with the provisions of courtesy. And when Paul had …
Do you mark what good came of the storm? Why then it was no mark of their being forsaken, that the storm came upon them. Now this that happened was in consequence of the season of the year; but the wonder is greater, that at such a season they were saved from the midst of the dangers, both he, and for his sake the rest, and this too in the Hadriatic.
The Reformation1 voice
And though common nature doth wring out of the barbarous Gentiles some affection of mercy in so great necessity; yet undoubtedly it was God which caused the men of Melita to handle these men so courteously, that his promise might be sure and certain, which might seem imperfect if the shipwreck had caused the loss of any man's life.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Melita or Malta, is about twelve miles broad, twenty long, and sixty distant from Sicily to the south. It yields abundance of honey, (whence its name was taken,) with much cotton, and is very fruitful, though it has only three feet depth of earth above the solid rock.
And when they were escaped,....
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
They knew that the island was called Melita - There were two islands of this name: one in the Adriatic Gulf, or Gulf of Venice, on the coast of Illyricum, and near to Epidaurus; the other in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and Africa, and now called Malta. It is about fifty miles from the coast of Sicily; twenty miles long, and twelve miles in its greatest breadth; and about sixty miles in circumference. It is one immense rock of white, soft freestone, with about one foot depth of earth on an average, and most of this has been brought from Sicily! It produces cotton, excellent fruits, and fine honey; from which it appears the island originally had its name; for μελι, meli, and in the genitive case, μελιτος, melitos, signifies honey. Others suppose that it derived its name from the Phoenicians, who established a colony in it, and made it a place of refuge, when they extended their traffic to the ocean, because it was furnished with excellent harbours: (on the E. and W. shores): hence, in their tongue, it would be called מליטה Meliteh, escape or refuge, from מלט malat, to escape. The Phaeacians were probably the first inhabitants of this island: they were expelled by the Phoenicians; the Phoenicians by the Greeks; the Greeks by the Carthaginians; the Carthaginians by the Romans, who possessed it in the time of the apostle; the Romans by the Goths; the Goths by the Saracens; the Saracens by the Sicilians, under Roger, earl of Sicily, in 1190. Charles V., emperor of Germany, took possession of it by his conquest of Naples and Sicily; and he gave it in 1525 to the knights of Rhodes, who are also called the knights of St. John of Jerusalem. […]
The words behind it
9 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| διασωθέντες | diasothentes | having been saved | G1295 → | 8 times |
| τότε | tote | then | G5119 → | 160 times |
| ἐπέγνωμεν | epegnomen | we found out | G1921 → | 44 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| Μελίτη | melite | Malta | G3194 → | |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νῆσος | nesos | island | G3520 → | 9 times |
| καλεῖται· | kaleitai | is called; | G2564 → | 147 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
διασωθέντεςhaving been saved
diasothentesG1295 →8 times
τότεthen
toteG5119 →160 times
ἐπέγνωμενwe found out
epegnomenG1921 →44 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ΜελίτηMalta
meliteG3194 →
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
νῆσοςisland
nesosG3520 →9 times
καλεῖται·is called;
kaleitaiG2564 →147 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 27:44The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.
it leads to
- Acts 27:22
But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship.
- Psalms 107:28–30
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.
- Acts 27:24
and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’
- John 6:39–40
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.
- 2 Corinthians 1:8–10
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired…
- Acts 27:22
Through
Acts 16:10As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 2:12–13
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,
- Acts 14:7
where they continued to preach the gospel.
- 2 Corinthians 2:12–13
Through
Acts 27:26However, we must run aground on some island.”
it leads to
- Acts 27:17
After hoisting it up, the crew used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and were driven along.
- Acts 27:17
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; James Smith, The Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 53; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament.