Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Acts 28:7-8

7-8. possessions of the chief man--"the first man."

of the island--He would hardly be so styled in the lifetime of his father, if his distinction was that of the family. But it is now ascertained that this was the proper official title of the Maltese representative of the Roman prætor to Sicily, to whose province Malta belonged; two inscriptions having been discovered in the island, one in Greek, the other in Latin, containing the same words which Luke here employs.

who received us--of Paul's company, but doubtless including the "courteous" Julius.

and lodged us three days courteously--till proper winter lodgings could be obtained for them.