Acts 14:12

12 sacerdos quoque Iovis qui erat ante civitatem tauros et coronas ante ianuas adferens cum populis volebat sacrificare

Acts 14:12 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 14:12

And they called Barnabas Jupiter
The supreme God; it may be because that Barnabas was the oldest man, of the tallest stature, and largest bulk, and made the best figure; whereas Paul was younger, of a low stature, and mean appearance:

and Paul Mercurius,
because he was the chief speaker; Mercury was the god of eloquence, and the messenger of the gods, and the interpreter of their will ^F18; Paul being chiefly concerned in preaching and speaking to the people, they called him by the name of this God: the Jews had a doctor in their schools, whom they called (Myrbdmh vad) , "the chief of the speakers" ^F19.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Vid Macrob. Saturnal. l. 1. c. 17, 19.
F19 Juchasin, fol. 45. 2. & 46. 1.

Acts 14:12 In-Context

10 turbae autem cum vidissent quod fecerat Paulus levaverunt vocem suam lycaonice dicentes dii similes facti hominibus descenderunt ad nos

11 et vocabant Barnaban Iovem Paulum vero Mercurium quoniam ipse erat dux verbi

12 sacerdos quoque Iovis qui erat ante civitatem tauros et coronas ante ianuas adferens cum populis volebat sacrificare

13 quod ubi audierunt apostoli Barnabas et Paulus conscissis tunicis suis exilierunt in turbas clamantes

14 et dicentes viri quid haec facitis et nos mortales sumus similes vobis homines adnuntiantes vobis ab his vanis converti ad Deum vivum qui fecit caelum et terram et mare et omnia quae in eis sunt