the constellation Gemini were regarded as the patron deities of sailors. We can readily

believe that the name of this ship had been recorded because of the suggestion it conveys

that the heathen world was about to be brought into subjection to the gospel by the

ministry of the poor Jewish prisoner. The writings of Paul and Luke give evidence that

they would not be above remarking upon the appositeness of such a feature. Perhaps

having said so much we must say more.

The constellation Gemini, "The Twins", preserves the ancient Hebrew name

thaummim, which means "united", a word which occurs in the original of Exod. 26: 24,

"coupled together". The old Coptic name of the constellation Pi-Mani conveys the same

idea, "United as in brotherhood". The Apostle, who was being borne by this vessel on

his journey to Rome, carried in his message the most marvelous "coupling together" of

those previously divided, that even the Scriptures contained, and, knowing this, we

cannot imagine either Luke or Paul to have been so dull-witted as not to perceive the

appositeness of the sign, without, of course, endorsing its Pagan associations.

The distance from Malta to Syracuse is less than one hundred miles. Upon arrival, the

Apostle and his fellows were permitted to land, and they tarried there for three days:

"And from thence we fetched a compass." The Greek word perierchomai occurs in

Acts 19: 13, where it is translated "vagabond", and means "To come or go around".

Here, Lewin remarks:--

James Smith's view, that the word perierchomai means simply "beating", in the

nautical sense, is probably more correct. At Rhegium, "The Twins" would have been

forced upon the Apostle's notice once more, for Castor and Pollux were the patron

divinities of the city. Here they tarried but a day. We learn from Josephus that the

Emperor Caligula had projected a port here for the protection of Alexandrian corn ships,

but had died without bringing it to completion. Mr. Smith computed that these vessels

would travel at the rate of seven knots, and this well agrees with the distance covered

according to Luke.

The south wind which sprang up after the one day's waiting was the most favourable

for their purpose, and setting their course due north, the next day the vessel arrived at

Puteoli, a distance of about 182 miles. Fifteen miles from Rhegium the vessel would

pass between the famous Scylla and Charybdis, and, once more, we can imagine the

Apostle and his companions gratefully remembering the snares and pitfalls through

which, by grace, they had been safely guided. Puteoli stood in the bay of Naples, and

was the great port of the Roman capital. In the Apostle's day Vesuvius was a lovely

mountain, whose westward slopes were covered with vines (Mart. 4: 44), and no one

could have suspected the near approach of the time when the admiral of the fleet would

be lost in its fiery eruption, as though the judgment of another Sodom and Gomorrah

were about to fall.