PUBLIUS : He was Chief or Governor Act.xxviii. 7, 8, 9.of Malta, when St. Paul was shipwreck’d by a Tempest upon this Island, in the Year of Christ 60, or of the Vulgar Era. This Publius receiv’d St. Paul and his Company into his House very kindly, and treated them for three Days with great Humanity. St. Paul, in Acknowledgment, restor’d the Governor’s Father to his Health, who was ill of a Fever and Bloody-flux. ‘Tis said, that not only Publius the Father, but the whole Island also, was converted to the Christian Faith1. Ado, with several Latin Writers, affirm, That Publius joyning himself to St. Paul, was by this Apostle made a Bishop, and sent to preach the Gospel ; That coming to Athens, he was made Bishop of this Church, and there ended his Life by Martyrdom2. But this Opinion cannot be supported ; since Publius Bishop of Athens did not suffer Martyrdom ‘till the Time of Marcus Aurelius.
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