This reading was first put forward in the tenth century by Constantine the Porphyrogenite, and was advocated later by a Dalmatian monk, Padre Georgi, who was a native of Meleda.

[5] William Robertson Nicoll argues that "there is no need... to refute [this] view", dismissing Georgi's argument because he was "no doubt jealous for the honour of his birthplace and his monastery".

[7] The castaways were brought to a local landowner with the common Roman praenomen, Publius (verse 7), whose Maltese title as 'first man' is attested from ancient inscriptions found in the island.

[7] Chariton of Aphrodisias wrote in his historical novel, Callirhoe (mid first century AD, roughly contemporary with Acts), about a pirate who was saved from shipwreck, who then claimed divine intervention.

[13] An Alexandrian ship wintered in the island gives weight to the identification of 'Melita' with Malta, on the usual line of sea travel from Alexandria to Italy, while the other suggestion, Meleda was far out of the way.

[2] The content of Paul's preaching to the local community was not recorded, but it can be inferred as a repetition of the arguments presented elsewhere in the book of Acts (verse 23).