7, 8. 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.
JFB.
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