Strong’s G4196: A Hellenized form of the Roman name Publius, denoting the chief official of Malta who hosted Paul and his companions after their shipwreck. His hospitality and subsequent healing demonstrate divine providence in spreading the gospel through Roman administration.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πόπλιος represents the Greek transliteration of the Roman praenomen Publius, meaning “public” or “of the people.” In Acts, he appears as the chief official of Malta who shows remarkable hospitality to Paul and his shipwrecked companions. His role illustrates how God used Roman administration to advance the gospel, while his father’s healing by Paul demonstrates divine power breaking cultural barriers. Early church tradition suggests he became Malta’s first bishop, showing how personal encounters with Christian witnesses could transform Roman officials into church leaders.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Πόπλιος, Poplios, POP-lee-os
• Detailed pronunciation: POP-lee-oss (stress on first syllable)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

• Latin origin: Publius
• Greek transliteration adapting the Roman name
• Derived from Latin “populus” (people)

D – Defining Meanings

• Greek form of Publius
• Name of Malta’s chief official
• Roman praenomen meaning “public”

Translation Options:

• “Publius” – standard English rendering
• “Poplius” – closer to Greek form
• “The Public One” – literal meaning of Latin origin

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Ῥωμαῖος (Rōmaios, rho-MAY-os) – Roman – See G4514
• Καῖσαρ (Kaisar, KAI-sar) – Caesar – See G2541
• Φῆλιξ (Phēlix, FAY-lix) – Felix, another Roman official – See G5344

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• Gender: Masculine
• Number: Singular only (as personal name)
• Case: All cases possible
• Declension: 2nd declension

Example morphological changes:

• Nominative: Πόπλιος
• Genitive: Ποπλίου
• Dative: Ποπλίῳ
• Accusative: Πόπλιον

Cross-references:

• No related forms as it’s a transliterated name

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes his role as Malta’s chief official. Thayer’s notes the Latin origin of the name. LSJ documents similar name transliterations. Vine’s highlights his significance in Acts. Strong’s connects his name to public service. Moulton and Milligan cite similar Roman name adaptations in papyri. All sources note his unique position in facilitating Paul’s ministry on Malta.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Acts 28:7: “In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was [Πόπλιος] Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.”

Additional References:
Acts 28:8

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πόπλιος exemplifies how God used Roman officials to advance His kingdom. His hospitality to Paul, followed by his father’s healing, shows divine providence working through human kindness. This reminds us that the gospel reaches all social levels, transforming both the powerful and the ordinary through Christ’s love and power.

D – Did You Know?

1. The name Publius was one of the oldest Roman praenomina (personal names).
2. Early church tradition holds that Publius became the first bishop of Malta.
3. Archaeological evidence confirms the title “chief man” (prōtos) was officially used in Malta.

Strong’s G4196: A Hellenized form of the Roman name Publius, denoting the chief official of Malta who hosted Paul and his companions after their shipwreck. His hospitality and subsequent healing demonstrate divine providence in spreading the gospel through Roman administration.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: Publius, Malta, Roman officials, Paul’s journeys, shipwreck, hospitality, healing miracles, Acts, Roman names, church tradition​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​