Acts 28:11-12

AT SYRACUSE. Acts 28:11-12.

Acts 28:11

And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers.

Acts 28:12

And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

Acts 28:11 It was a ship from Alexandria, Egypt, upon which Paul started the journey and it was a ship from Alexandria upon which he was to finish the journey; but of course it was another vessel, one that had fared better than her companion during the winter period. This three month period was from the middle of November to the middle of February. According to Greek mythology, Jupiter or Zeus had two sons by one of the goddesses named Leda. These sons were supposed to have been translated into the sky and as the shining stars had a good influence on the ocean and hence were the patron gods of the sailors. The names of these two sons were Castor and Pollux. The ship upon which Paul and the others embarked was named after these gods.

1010.

What was the significance of the name of the ship upon which they sailed to Rome?

Acts 28:12 It was eighty-six miles to Syracuse. This port was made up of five cities. The walls were 22 miles in circumference and the city rivaled Carthage in wealth, according to Strabo. Cicero calls it -glorious Syracuse, greatest of Greek cities, and fairest of all cities.-' It was a colony of Corinth and for years almost mistress of the world. (Dallmann, Paul pp. 251-252.)

Here they stayed for three days. There is no record that Paul preached here at this time, but later a strong work was established.

1011.

What type of city was Syracuse?