Island

Malta

MAWL-tuh · Modern St. Paul's Bay, Malta · Also called Melita

Malta is a island of the biblical world, known today as St. Paul's Bay, Malta.

What is known

Where Paul was shipwrecked on his voyage to Rome, and the islanders showed him "unusual kindness" (Acts 28:1-2)
Paul was bitten by a viper but suffered no harm, astonishing the islanders (Acts 28:3-6)
Paul healed the father of Publius, the chief official of the island, and many others (Acts 28:7-9)

History

Founded: A small Mediterranean island, Roman territory by the NT era
Population: Estimated 10,000–20,000 residents across the archipelago in the Roman era
Coordinates: 35.9483° N, 14.4017° E

Archaeology

The traditional shipwreck site lies on Malta's northern coast; Roman-era anchors have been recovered from the seabed nearby. Two miles inland, the San Pawl Milqi site revealed a Roman agricultural villa with olive-oil presses built over an earlier Punic farmhouse, later associated by local tradition with Paul's landing, though this link is devotional tradition rather than an archaeologically confirmed connection to Acts 28.

Roman villa remains at San Pawl Milqi, near St. Paul's Bay, Malta — source & licence

Roman olive-press artifact from San Pawl Milqi, Malta — source & licence

Scripture references

Acts 28:1-10 — Shipwreck, viper, and healings

On a modern map

Malta today

Reflect

Shipwrecked on Malta, Paul was met with unusual kindness from strangers — whose kindness carried you through a wreck, and who needs yours?

More places

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