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Tuesday, July 29th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

Acts 14:12

The people began to call Barnabas "Zeus," and they called Paul "Hermes," because he was the main speaker.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Barnabas;   Homage;   Integrity;   Jupiter;   Lycaonia;   Lystra;   Mercurius;   Minister, Christian;   Paul;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Barnabas;   Missions, World-Wide;   The Topic Concordance - God;   Idolatry;   Turning;   Vanity;   Worship;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Idolatry;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jupiter;   Mercury;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Barnabas;   Galatians, letter to the;   Lystra;   Mission;   Paul;   Worship;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Thessalonians, First and Second, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Jesus Christ;   Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Barnabas;   Jupiter;   Mercurius;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Barnabas;   Iconium;   Jupiter;   Mercurius;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Chief;   Gods, Pagan;   Hermes;   Lycaonia;   Mercurius;   Timothy;   Zeus;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Barnabas;   Canon of the New Testament;   Jupiter;   Mercury;   Messiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Barnabas ;   Call, Called, Calling;   Galatia ;   Galatians Epistle to the;   Garlands ;   Jupiter ;   Mercury;   Name ;   Word;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jupiter, ;   Lystra ;   Mercurius, ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Iconium;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jupiter;   Lycaonia;   Lystra;   Mercurius;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ju'piter;   Mer'cury;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Barnabas;   Hermes (1);   Jupiter;   Mercury;   Zeus;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for March 23;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
King James Version (1611)
And they called Barnabas Iupiter, and Paul Mercurius, because hee was the chiefe speaker.
King James Version
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
English Standard Version
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
New American Standard Bible
And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, since he was the chief speaker.
New Century Version
Then the people began to call Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes," because he was the main speaker.
Amplified Bible
They began calling Barnabas, Zeus [chief of the Greek gods], and Paul, Hermes [messenger of the Greek gods], since he took the lead in speaking.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Legacy Standard Bible
And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Berean Standard Bible
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Contemporary English Version
The people then gave Barnabas the name Zeus, and they gave Paul the name Hermes, because he did the talking.
Complete Jewish Bible
They began calling Bar-Nabba "Zeus" and Sha'ul "Hermes," since he did most of the talking;
Darby Translation
And they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercury, because he took the lead in speaking.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And they called Barnabas, Iupiter: and Paul, Mercurius, because hee was the chiefe speaker.
George Lamsa Translation
So they called Bar''na-bas, the chief of the gods; and Paul, they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Good News Translation
They gave Barnabas the name Zeus, and Paul the name Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Lexham English Bible
And they began calling Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the principal speaker.
Literal Translation
And they called Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the leader in speaking.
American Standard Version
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.
Bible in Basic English
And they gave the name of Jupiter to Barnabas, and to Paul that of Mercury, because he was the chief talker.
Hebrew Names Version
They called Bar-Nabba "Jupiter," and Sha'ul "Mercury," because he was the chief speaker.
International Standard Version
They began to call Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, because he was the main speaker.
Etheridge Translation
And they named Bar Naba, lord of the gods ; [fn] and Paulos, Hermis, because he was foremost in discourse.
Murdock Translation
And they named Barnabas the Lord of the Gods; and Paul Hermes, because he commenced the speaking.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And they called Barnabas Iupiter, and Paul Mercurius, because he was the chiefe speaker.
English Revised Version
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.
World English Bible
They called Barnabas "Jupiter," and Paul "Mercury," because he was the chief speaker.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Weymouth's New Testament
They called Barnabas `Zeus,' and Paul, as being the principal speaker, `Hermes.'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei clepiden Barnabas Jubiter, and Poul Mercurie, for he was ledere of the word.
Update Bible Version
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.
Webster's Bible Translation
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
New English Translation
They began to call Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
New King James Version
And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
New Living Translation
They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker.
New Life Bible
They said that Barnabas was Jupiter. Paul was called Mercury because he spoke more than Barnabas.
New Revised Standard
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And they went on to call Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercury, seeing that, he, was the leader of discourse.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(14-11) And they called Barnabas, Jupiter: but Paul, Mercury: because he was chief speaker.
Revised Standard Version
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, because he was the chief speaker, they called Hermes.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And they called Barnabas Iupiter and Paul Mercurius because he was the preacher.
Young's Literal Translation
they were calling also Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, since he was the leader in speaking.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And they called Barnabas Iupiter, and Paul Mercurius, because he was the preacher.
Mace New Testament (1729)
Barnabas, they stiled Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.
Simplified Cowboy Version
They reckoned Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and Paul was Hermes since he's the one who did most of the talking.

Contextual Overview

8 In Lystra there was a man who had something wrong with his feet. He had been born crippled and had never walked. 9 He was sitting and listening to Paul speak. Paul looked straight at him and saw that the man believed God could heal him. 10 So Paul shouted, "Stand up on your feet!" The man jumped up and began walking around. 11 When the people saw what Paul did, they shouted in their own Lycaonian language. They said, "The gods have come down to us in the form of humans!" 12 The people began to call Barnabas "Zeus," and they called Paul "Hermes," because he was the main speaker. 13 The temple of Zeus was near the city. The priest of this temple brought some bulls and flowers to the city gates. The priest and the people wanted to offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas. 14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, understood what the people were doing, they tore their own clothes. Then they ran in among the people and shouted to them: 15 "Men, why are you doing this? We are not gods. We are human just like you. We came to tell you the Good News. We are telling you to turn away from these worthless things. Turn to the true living God, the one who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them. 16 "In the past God let all the nations do what they wanted. 17 But God was always there doing the good things that prove he is real. He gives you rain from heaven and good harvests at the right times. He gives you plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Jupiter: Acts 19:35

Reciprocal: Acts 2:7 - amazed 1 Corinthians 9:6 - Barnabas Galatians 2:1 - Barnabas Galatians 4:8 - ye did

Cross-References

Genesis 11:27
This is the history of Terah's family. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran was the father of Lot.
Genesis 12:5
He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the slaves, and all the other things he had gotten in Haran. Then he and his group moved to the land of Canaan.
Genesis 14:9
They fought against King Kedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Babylonia, and King Arioch of Ellasar. So there were four kings fighting against five.
Genesis 14:11
So Kedorlaomer and his armies took everything that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah owned. They took all their food and clothing and left.
Genesis 14:12
Lot, the son of Abram's brother, was living in Sodom, and they captured him. They also took everything he owned and left.
Genesis 14:13
One of the men who had escaped went to Abram the Hebrew and told him what happened. Abram was camped near the trees of Mamre the Amorite. Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner had made an agreement to help each other, and they had also signed an agreement to help Abram.
Genesis 14:17
Then Abram went home after he defeated Kedorlaomer and the kings with him. On his way home, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh. (This is now called King's Valley.)
Genesis 14:19
He blessed Abram and said, "Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth.
Numbers 16:26
Moses warned the people, "Move away from the tents of these evil men. Don't touch anything that belongs to them! If you do, you will be destroyed because of their sins."
Job 9:23
Is it God who laughs when a disaster kills innocent people?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 r; 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

דאש המדברים, "the chief of the speakers" s.

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

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter - Jupiter was the most powerful of all the gods of the ancients. He was represented as the son of Saturn and Ops, and was educated in a cave on Mount Ida, in the island of Crete. The worship of Jupiter was almost universal. He was the Aremon of Africa, the Belus of Babylon, the Osiris of Egypt. His common appellation was, The Father of gods and men. He was usually represented as sitting upon a golden or an ivory throne, holding in one hand a thunderbolt, and in the other a scepter of cypress. His power was supposed to extend over other gods; and everything was subservient to his will except the Fates. There is the most abundant proof that he was worshipped in the region of Lycaonia and throughout Asia Minor. There was, besides, a fable among the inhabitants of Lycaonia that Jupiter and Mercury had once visited that place, and had been received by Philemon. The whole fable is related by Ovid, “Metam.,” 8, 611, etc.

And Paul, Mercurius - Mercury, called by the Greeks Hermes, was a celebrated god of antiquity. No less than five of this name are mentioned by Cicero. The most celebrated was the son of Jupiter and Maia. He was the messenger of the gods, and of Jupiter in particular; he was the patron of travelers and shepherds; he conducted the souls of the dead into the infernal regions; he presided over orators, and declaimers, and merchants; and he was also the god of thieves, pickpockets, and all dishonest persons. He was regarded as the god of eloquence; and as light, rapid, and quick in his movements. The conjecture of Chrysostom is, that Barnabas was a large, athletic man, and was hence taken for Jupiter; and that Paul was small in his person, and was hence supposed to be Mercury.

Because he was the chief speaker - The office of Mercury was to deliver the messages of the gods; and as Paul only had been discoursing, he was supposed to be Mercury.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 14:12. 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.


 
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