- Original: Πόπλιος - Transliteration: Poplios - Phonetic: pop'-lee-os - Definition: Publius = popular 1. the chief magistrate of the island of melita - Origin: of Latin origin - TDNT entry: None - Part(s) of speech: Noun Masculine - Strong's: Of Latin origin; apparently popular; Poplius (that is Publius) a Roman: - Publius. Total KJV Occurrences: 2 • Publius, 2 Act 28:7; Act 28:8