Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 28:1

"And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita." — Acts 28:1 (ASV)

Malta is an island about 18 miles long and 8 miles wide, lying 58 miles south of Sicily and 180 miles north and east of the African coast. It had been colonized about 1000 B. C. by Phoenicians, but was captured by Rome in 218 B. C. (though it was given much local autonomy). Augustus established a Roman governor on the island and settled a number of army veterans and their families there. In Paul’s day the island was known for its prosperity and residential architecture, and its native population spoke a Phoenician dialect, though many probably knew some Latin and Greek.