Acts 28:11

The Twin Brothers

After three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers. Acts 28:11.

Ships in ancient times had, as a rule, two figures attached to them. In the front of the ship was the figure-head, after which the ship was named. In the stern was the image of the god who was supposed to guard the vessel. The ship in which St. Paul sailed had two in the stern, the images of the gods Castor and Pollux.

Do you know the Greek legend about Castor and Pollux? They were twin brothers, the sons of Zeus, the king of the gods. But although they were brothers, there was a great difference between them, for Pollux was immortal but Castor was not.

The two brothers were very much attached to each other, and they shared many adventures together; but at last Castor was killed in battle. Then Pollux sorrowed so much for his brother that he wished he might die too, but he could not, because he was immortal. He went to Zeus and begged him to make him a mortal man, that he might die and go to Hades to join his beloved brother. But Zeus could not do that. However, on account of his great love for Castor, and because he could not be happy away from him, Pollux got permission to spend every second day with Castor. So he spent one day among the gods, and the next day in Hades where the dead were.

Another story says that as a reward for their great love for each other the brothers were fixed as stars in the sky. Those stars are called the Gemini, or the Heavenly Twins. Both in Greece and in Italy it was believed that Castor and Pollux, always together, came riding on white horses to help soldiers on the battlefield, and to gain the victory for those who called on them. They were also supposed to protect sailors in storms. That is why it was common to find their images in boats.

This beautiful story of brotherly love and loyalty reminds us of a true story. We are mortals like Castor, but we have a great immortal Brother. And He loved us so much that He could not be happy without us, but came down from Heaven to seek us, His little mortal brothers. More than that, He showed us the way back with Him, that we might live with Him in heaven forever.

The brother knew well the castle old,

Every closet, each outlook fair,

Every turret and bartizan bold,

Every chamber, garnished or bare.

The brother was out in the heavenly air;

Little ones lost the starry way,

Wandered down the dungeon stair.

The brother missed them, and on the clay

Of the dungeon-floor he found them all.

Up they jumped when they heard him call!

He led the little ones into the day

Out and up to the sunshine gay,

Up to the fathers own door-sill

In at the father's own room door,

There to be merry and work and play,

There to come and go at their will,

Good boys and girls to be lost no more!

(G. MacDonald, Poetical Works, i. 308.)