Acts 14:12

Verse

Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

American Standard Version (1901)

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.

And they gave the name of Jupiter to Barnabas, and to Paul that of Mercury, because he was the chief talker.

The priest also of Jupiter that was before the city, bringing oxen and garlands before the gate, would have offered sacrifice with the people.

Free Bible Version

They identified Barnabas as the Greek god Zeus, and Paul as the god Hermes because he was one who did most of the talking.

Geneva Bible 1599

And they called Barnabas, Iupiter: and Paul, Mercurius, because hee was the chiefe speaker.

King James (Authorized) Version

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

Plain English Version

And those people reckoned Barnabas was their boss god called Zeus, and they reckoned Paul was their messenger god called Hermes, because Paul did all the talking.

Translation for Translators

They began to say that Barnabas was probably the chief god, whose name was Zeus. And they began to say that Paul was Hermes, the messenger/spokesman for the other gods. They mistakenly thought that because Paul was the one who had been speaking.

Unlocked Literal Bible

They called Barnabas “Zeus,” and Paul, “Hermes,” because he was the main speaker.

Noah Webster Bible

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

World English Bible

They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker.

Young's Literal Translation

they were calling also Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, since he was the leader in speaking.

Context

The Visit to Lystra and Derbe

¹¹When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!”¹²Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.¹³The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.

Sermons

More Archaeological Evidence

F.F Bruce

Summary

In Acts 14:12, the people of Lystra mistook Paul and Barnabas for gods after witnessing a miraculous healing. This incident reflects the tendency of humans to elevate others to divine status when they witness extraordinary events. It also serves as a reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the importance of discerning between the works of God and the works of man. Paul and Barnabas' response to this misunderstanding demonstrates their humility and commitment to redirecting the people's focus towards the one true God.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

They called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius - The heathens supposed that Jupiter and Mercury were the gods who most frequently assumed the human form; and Jupiter was accustomed to take Mercury with him on such expeditions. Jupiter was the supreme god of the heathens; and Mercury was by them considered the god of eloquence. And the ancient fable, from which I have quoted so largely above, represents Jupiter and Mercury coming to this very region, where they were entertained by Lycaon, from whom the Lycaonians derived their name. See the whole fable in the first book of Ovid's Metamorphoses. As the ancients usually represented Jupiter as rather an aged man, large, noble, and majestic; and Mercury young, light, and active, the conjecture of Chrysostom is very probable, that Barnabas was a large, noble, well-made man, and probably in years; and St. Paul, young, active, and eloquent; on which account, they termed the former Jupiter, and the latter Mercury. That Mercury was eloquent and powerful in his words is allowed by the heathens; and the very epithet that is applied here to Paul, ην ὁ ἡγουμενος του λογου, he was the chief or leader of the discourse, was applied to Mercury. So Jamblichus de Myster. Init. Θεος ὁ των λογων ἡγεμων ὁ Ἑρμης. And Macrobius, Sat. i. 8: Scimus Mercurium vocis et sermonis potentem. We know that Mercury is powerful both in his voice and eloquence. With the Lycaonians, the actions of these apostles proved them to be gods; and the different parts they took appeared to them to fix their character, so that one was judged to be Jupiter, and the other Mercury.