Acts 28:11 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Whose sign was Castor and Pollux.— It was the custom of the ancients to have images on their ships, both at the head and stern; the first of which was called the sign from whence the ship was named, and the other was that of the tutelar deity to whose care the ship was committed. There is no doubtbut they had sometimes idol deities at the head; and then it is most likely, if they had any figure at the stern, it was the same; as it is hardly probable the ship should be called by the name of one idol deity and be committed to the care of another. The figure that was used for Castor and Pollux, was that of two young men on horseback, with each a javelin in his hand, and by their side half an egg and a star; but the sign of Castor and Pollux was that of a double cross. When these two appeared together, they were looked upon, by the superstitious Heathen, as propitious to sailors, and therefore for a good omen they had them carved or painted on the head of the ship, and gave it a name from thence; and perhaps most of those who sailed in company with the apostle, might look upon it as fortunate, that they sailed under such a protection, andmight promise themselves a more prosperous voyage in that ship, than they had met with in the other which brought them from Crete, as indeed they had; but it was owing to the protection, not of Castor and Pollux, but of an infinitely superior Deity, even that true God whose providence is continually over all his works.