Why were Paul and Barnabas called "gods" in Acts 14:12 by the people? Setting the Scene in Lystra • Lystra was a rural, pagan town in the Roman province of Galatia. • Greek mythology saturated daily life; a temple to Zeus stood “just outside the city” (Acts 14:13). • The crowd spoke “in the Lycaonian language” (Acts 14:11), showing a strong local culture distinct from the larger Greco-Roman world. The Miracle That Triggered the Shout • A man “lame from birth” and “never having walked” (Acts 14:8) listened as Paul preached. • “Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed, and called out, ‘Stand up on your feet!’ At once the man jumped up and began to walk” (Acts 14:9-10). • The townspeople had no biblical category for this supernatural act, so they reached for the one explanation they knew—visiting deities. Pagan Worldview: Why the Crowd Reached for Their Pantheon • In a polytheistic mindset, gods regularly appeared in human form. • Miracles were interpreted as proof of divine presence, not divine empowerment through human servants. • Without the light of Scripture (Psalm 119:105), fallen humanity “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man” (Romans 1:23). Local Legend and Cultural Expectations • A well-known Lycaonian tale (recorded later by Ovid) said Zeus and Hermes once visited the region disguised as men; only one elderly couple welcomed them, and the rest of the valley was judged. • That story primed the crowd to avoid repeating their ancestors’ mistake: if powerful strangers appear, honor them quickly. Discerning Why Barnabas = Zeus and Paul = Hermes • “Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the leading speaker” (Acts 14:12). • Zeus (Jupiter) was chief, dignified, commanding—Barnabas evidently carried that bearing. • Hermes (Mercury) was the messenger god—Paul’s role as chief spokesman fit the part. • The priest of Zeus even “brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates” (Acts 14:13) for sacrifice. How Paul and Barnabas Responded • They “tore their clothes” (Acts 14:14) in Jewish anguish and protest. • “Men, why are you doing this? We too are men, with human natures like your own. We are proclaiming the good news to you, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God” (Acts 14:15). • Their response mirrors other biblical rejections of misplaced worship: – Peter with Cornelius (Acts 10:25-26) – Paul on Malta (Acts 28:6) – The angel with John (Revelation 19:10) • They pointed the crowd from creation to Creator—“the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them” (Acts 14:15; cf. Genesis 1:1; Psalm 146:6). Lessons for Today • Miraculous power belongs to God alone; His servants are merely conduits (2 Corinthians 4:7). • Even sincere awe can become idolatry when directed at people rather than the Lord (Exodus 20:3). • Cultural myths still shape how people interpret spiritual events; Scripture must correct those narratives (Acts 17:30-31). • God’s messengers must quickly deflect glory upward, echoing Paul and Barnabas: “Worship God!” |
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