Malta — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily. The name Malta occurs only once in the Bible (Acts 28:1, KJB “Melita”), in connection with the shipwreck that occurred on Paul’s voyage to Rome (25:11-12). This voyage was undertaken during the winter, the season in which storms are most likely to be encountered on the Mediterranean. The ship proceeded cautiously, for contrary winds were blowing (27:4). With difficulty they reached the harbor of Fair Havens on Crete (vv 7-8). In spite of a warning by Paul, the decision was made to try to reach the Cretan port of Phoenix, which was more suitable for wintering (vv 9-12).

Show passage in OET: ACT 28:1

OET-RV ACT 28:1

28 Once everyone was safe, we discovered that the island is called Melitai.

OET-LV ACT 28:1

28 And having _been _brought _safely _through, then we _learned that the island is _being _called Melitaʸ.

Show passage in OET: ACT 25:11–12

OET-RV ACT 25:11

11 If I had done anything wrong, anything worthy of the death sentence, then I’m ready to accept death. On the other hand, if none of their accusations are true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Kaisar.”

OET-RV ACT 25:12

12 So Festos conferred with his legal counsel and answered, “Well, you’ve appealed to Kaisar so you’ll go to Kaisar!”

OET-LV ACT 25:11

11 Therefore if on _one _hand I _am _doing _wrong and I _have _done anything worthy of _death, I _am_ not _refusing which to _die _off, on _the _other _hand if nothing is true of _which these are _accusing against _me, no _one is _able to _grant me to _them.
I _am _Appealing to _Kaisar.

OET-LV ACT 25:12

12 Then the Faʸstos having _conversed _with with the counsel, answered:
You _have _appealed to _Kaisar, you _will _be _going to Kaisar.

Show passage in OET: ACT 27:4

OET-RV ACT 27:4

4 When we left again, the ship stayed between Kupros (Cyprus) and the mainland because of the unfavourable winds,

OET-LV ACT 27:4

4 And _from _there having _been _launched, we _sailed _under the Kupros, because _of that the winds to _be contrary.

Show passage in OET: ACT 27:7–8

OET-RV ACT 27:7

7 After many days of slow and difficult sailing, we came alongside Knidos but the wind wasn’t helpful to us, so we sailed across to Kraitai (Crete) and along the cape of Salmone.

OET-RV ACT 27:8

8 We sailed along it with difficulty until we came to a place called ‘Fair Havens’ which was near the city of Lasaia.

OET-LV ACT 27:7

7 And in many days, slow _sailing and with _difficulty, having _become along the Knidos, the wind not further _permitting us, we _sailed _under the Kraʸtaʸ along Salmōn/(Salmōn)e.

OET-LV ACT 27:8

8 And sailing _along it with _difficulty, we _came to a_ certain _place being _called Beautiful Harbours, to _which was near the_city Lasaia.

Show passage in OET: ACT 27:9–12

OET-RV ACT 27:9

9 A lot of time had now elapsed and the voyage was starting to become dangerous because we were already heading into winter. Paulos advised those in charge,

OET-RV ACT 27:10

10 telling them, “Men, I perceive that we’re going to encounter a lot of damage on this voyage, with loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also our lives.”

OET-RV ACT 27:11

11 But the centurion was persuaded by the ship owner and the captain, rather than by what Paulos had said.

OET-RV ACT 27:12

12 They realised that this harbour wasn’t suitable to winter in, so the majority suggested leaving there with the expectation of being able to get to Kraitai to winter in the harbour at Foinix (which was open to both the southwest and the northwest).

OET-LV ACT 27:9

9 And much time having _elapsed, and the voyage already being dangerous, because _of that even the fasting already to _have _passed _by, the Paulos was _advising them

OET-LV ACT 27:10

10 saying to _them:
Men, I _am _perceiving that the voyage to _be _going going _to _be with damage and much loss, not only of _the cargo and to _the ship, but also the lives of _us.

OET-LV ACT 27:11

11 But the centurion was _being _persuaded by _the captain and the ship _owner rather, than by _the things being _spoken by Paulos.

OET-LV ACT 27:12

12 And the harbour being unsuitable to winter, the more presented a_counsel to _be _launched from _there, if somehow they _might _be _able, having _arrived at Foinix, to _winter a_harbour of_ the _Kraʸtaʸ, looking to the_southwest and to the_northwest.

Jump to OET ACT 28:1 section.

Jump to OET ACT 25:11–12 section.

Jump to OET ACT 27:4 section.

Jump to OET ACT 27:7–8 section.

Jump to OET ACT 27:9–12 section.

Caught by a severe storm and driven helplessly by the wind for 14 days, the ship finally neared land during the night. In the morning, the ship tried for the beach but ran aground and was pounded to pieces by the surf. Everyone managed to reach the shore safely. While putting wood on a fire, Paul was bitten by a viper. The natives of the island supposed that he was a criminal whose life was being taken by the bite of a snake. When he did not fall down dead, they radically changed their opinion of him and regarded him as a god (Acts 28:6).

Show passage in OET: ACT 28:6

OET-RV ACT 28:6

6 The locals were waiting for his arm to swell up or for him to fall down dead, but after a while when nothing happened they changed their minds and decided that instead, he must be a god.

OET-LV ACT 28:6

6 But they were _expecting him to _be _going to _be _being _swelled _up, or to _be _falling _down suddenly dead.
But over much time, them waiting and observing nothing amiss becoming to him, having _changed _their _minds they _were _saying him to _be a_god.

Jump to OET ACT 28:6 section.

The island of Malta is about 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) from Sicily and has an area of 95 square miles (246.1 square kilometers). St. Paul’s Bay marks the traditional site of the shipwreck of Acts. The island is essentially agricultural, but production is poor because of the thin calcareous soil. Terracing is practiced in order to utilize the soil to the fullest extent. The island has no rivers and is dependent on rainfall and springs for its water. The climate in general is mild, but in the summer the island is subject to the hot, dust-laden sirocco from the deserts of Libya.