Acts 28:11

Paul’s Journey to Rome , Acts 28:11-16 .

11. It was about the beginning of February in the year 61 that, after a three months’ wintering in Malta, Julius embarked for Rome.

Ship of Alexandria Malta was in the direct line of the great corn commerce from Alexandria to Puteoli and Rome. This ship, detained probably at Valetta, like Paul’s ship from Alexandria, was more fortunate in escaping shipwreck, though arrested in its career by winter. When the spring of this southern clime approached and navigation opened the Castor and Pollux was ready for Julius’ use.

Sign A carved and gilded statue, (figure head,) sometimes a bas relief or painting, called by the Romans tutela, at the bow of the ship, and from which the ship usually received its name. The figure head of the present ship, Castor and Pollux, represented the deified twin brothers of the beautiful Helen who caused the fall of Troy. They were the fabulous patrons of sailors, and were by them identified with the heavenly constellation, the Gemini or Twins, and were supposed to be the meteoric fire balls (called by modern sailors the “fires of St. Elmo”) which are seen at sea. It was in a vessel consecrated to this complicated pagan superstition that our Christian hero sailed toward the pagan capital.