Acts 28:11 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria (see the note at Acts 27:6 ),

Which had wintered in the isle - no doubt driven in by the same storm which had wrecked on its shores the apostle's vessel-an incidental mark of consistency in the narrative;

Whose sign - or figure-head; the figure, carved or painted on the bow, which gave name to the vessel. Such figure-heads were anciently as common as now.

Was Castor and Pollux, [ dioskouroi (G1359)] - 'the Dioscuri;' that is, Castor and Pollux, the tutelar gods of mariners, to whom all their good fortune was ascribed. 'Anthony is substituted for them (remark Webster and Wilkinson) in the modern superstitions of Mediterranean sailors. They carry his image in their boats and ships. It is highly improbable that two ships of Alexandria should have been casually found, of which the owners were able and willing to receive on board such a number of passengers. We may then reasonably conceive that it was compulsory on the owners to convey soldiers and state-travelers' (Acts 27:6).

Acts 28:11

11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.