¶ And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.
And {G1161} after {G3326} three {G5140} months {G3376} we departed {G321} in {G1722} a ship {G4143} of Alexandria {G222}, which had wintered {G3914} in {G1722} the isle {G3520}, whose sign {G3902} was Castor and Pollux {G1359}.
After three months, we sailed away on a ship from Alexandria called “Twin Gods,” which had passed the winter at the island.
After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead.
And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers.
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Acts 27:6
And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. -
Isaiah 45:20
¶ Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye [that are] escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god [that] cannot save. -
1 Corinthians 8:4
¶ As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but one. -
Acts 6:9
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. -
Jonah 1:5
Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that [were] in the ship into the sea, to lighten [it] of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. -
Jonah 1:16
Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
This verse marks the continuation of the journey of Paul and his companions towards Rome, following a period of forced delay after the shipwreck.
Context
Acts 28:11 picks up the narrative after Paul and his fellow travelers have spent three months wintering on the island of Malta. They were shipwrecked on their way to Rome, where Paul was being sent as a prisoner. This verse describes their departure from the island and the type of ship they secured for the next leg of their voyage towards their destination.
Key Themes
Linguistic and Cultural Insights
The phrase "whose sign was Castor and Pollux" refers to the figureheads or painted emblems on the ship's prow. Castor and Pollux (also known as the Dioscuri) were twin brothers in Greek and Roman mythology, revered as patrons of sailors and associated with safe voyages. Ships often bore images of deities or mythical figures for identification and to invoke protection. This detail highlights the pagan context of the maritime world in which the early Christians traveled, underscoring that God's purposes are accomplished even through means associated with non-Christian beliefs.
Reflection
Acts 28:11 reminds us that delays and detours are often part of life's journey, but they do not necessarily mean the end of God's plan. Just as Paul's voyage continued after the winter in Malta, our paths forward may resume after unexpected pauses. The detail about the ship's sign, while seemingly minor, illustrates the reality of the world Paul navigated – a world steeped in different beliefs and customs. It can serve as a reminder that God works through the ordinary circumstances and structures of the world to advance His kingdom.