Acts 14:12
New International Version
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called 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.

English Standard Version
Barnabas they called 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.

Berean Literal Bible
And Barnabas, they began calling Zeus; and Paul, Hermes, because he was the leading speaker.

King James Bible
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, 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 American Standard Bible
And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, since he was the chief speaker.

NASB 1995
And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

NASB 1977
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.

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.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And they started to call Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the main speaker.

American Standard Version
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, 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.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They addressed Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes because Paul did most of the talking.

Good News Translation
They gave Barnabas the name Zeus, and Paul the name Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

International Standard Version
They began to call Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, because he was the main speaker.

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

NET Bible
They began to call Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Weymouth New Testament
They called Barnabas 'Zeus,' and Paul, as being the principal speaker, 'Hermes.'

World English Bible
They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
they were also calling Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, since he was the leader in speaking.

Berean Literal Bible
And Barnabas, they began calling Zeus; and Paul, Hermes, because he was the leading speaker.

Young's Literal Translation
they were calling also Barnabas Zeus, and Paul Hermes, since he was the leader in speaking.

Smith's Literal Translation
And truly they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, since he was leader of the word.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter: but Paul, Mercury; because he was chief speaker.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they called Barnabas, ‘Jupiter,’ yet truly they called Paul, ‘Mercury,’ because he was the lead speaker.

New American Bible
They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,” because he was the chief speaker.

New Revised Standard Version
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So they called Bar’na-bas, the chief of the gods; and Paul, they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they were naming BarNaba, The Lord of the gods, and Paulus, Hermes, because he had been introducing the message.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercury, for he was the chief speaker.

Godbey New Testament
and they were calling Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, since he was the leader of the speech.

Haweis New Testament
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he principally led the discourse.

Mace New Testament
Barnabas, they stiled Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.

Weymouth New Testament
They called Barnabas 'Zeus,' and Paul, as being the principal speaker, 'Hermes.'

Worrell New Testament
And they were calling Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, since he was the chief speaker.

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

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



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!” 12 Barnabas 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.…

Cross References
Acts 17:18
Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 8:5-6
For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

2 Corinthians 11:4
For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it very easily.

Galatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

Romans 1:22-23
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

Revelation 9:20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

Exodus 32:4
He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

Deuteronomy 32:17
They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear.

Psalm 96:5
For all the gods of the nations are idols, but it is the LORD who made the heavens.

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...

Isaiah 44:17
From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”

Isaiah 45:20
Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.

Jeremiah 10:3-5
For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

Jupiter.

Acts 19:35
And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

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Barnabas Chief Hermes Jupiter Lead Paul Principal Speaker Speaking Talker Zeus
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Barnabas Chief Hermes Jupiter Lead Paul Principal Speaker Speaking Talker Zeus
Acts 14
1. Paul and Barnabas are persecuted from Iconium.
8. At Lystra Paul heals a cripple, whereupon they are reputed as gods.
19. Paul is stoned.
21. They pass through various churches, confirming the disciples in faith and patience.
26. Returning to Antioch, they report what God had done with them.














Barnabas they called Zeus
In the ancient Greco-Roman world, Zeus was the king of the gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus, and the god of the sky and thunder. The people of Lystra, witnessing the miraculous healing performed by Paul and Barnabas, interpreted their power through the lens of their own polytheistic beliefs. The Greek name "Zeus" (Ζεύς) reflects the highest authority and power, which they attributed to Barnabas. This attribution may suggest that Barnabas had a commanding presence or demeanor that led the people to associate him with the supreme deity. From a conservative Christian perspective, this misidentification underscores the spiritual blindness of the pagans, who failed to recognize the true source of the apostles' power—God Himself.

and Paul they called Hermes
Hermes, in Greek mythology, was the messenger of the gods, known for his eloquence and speed. The Greek name "Hermes" (Ἑρμῆς) is associated with communication and interpretation. Paul, being the chief speaker, naturally fit the role of Hermes in the eyes of the Lystrans. This reflects the cultural context in which the apostles were ministering, where the people interpreted divine activity through their own mythological framework. For conservative Christians, this highlights the importance of clear communication of the Gospel, ensuring that the message of Christ is not confused with local myths or false gods.

because he was the chief speaker
The phrase "chief speaker" indicates Paul's role as the primary communicator of the Gospel message. The Greek word for "speaker" (λόγος) is often translated as "word" or "reason," emphasizing the importance of the spoken word in spreading the Christian faith. Paul's ability to articulate the message of Christ was a gift from God, enabling him to reach diverse audiences. This role of chief speaker is significant in the early church, as it demonstrates the necessity of leadership and clarity in teaching. From a conservative viewpoint, it serves as a reminder of the responsibility of church leaders to faithfully and accurately convey the teachings of Scripture, ensuring that the truth of the Gospel is not lost or misinterpreted.

(12) They called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius.--St. Luke gives, as was natural, the Greek forms--Zeus and Hermes. The main reason for the assignment of the two names was that the listeners recognised in St. Paul the gift of eloquence, which was the special attribute of Hermes. Possibly, also, unlike as were the weak bodily presence and the many infirmities of the Apostle to the sculptured grace with which we are familiar as belonging to the sandalled messenger of the gods--young, and beautiful, and agile--there may have been something in the taller stature and more stately presence of Barnabas which impressed them with the sense of a dignity like that of Jupiter. In any case, we must remember that the master-pieces of Greek art were not likely to have found their way to a Lycaonian village, and that the Hermes of Lystra may have borne the same relation to that of Athens and Corinth as the grotesque Madonna of some Italian wayside shrine does to the masterpieces of Raphael. Real idolatry cares little about the aesthetic beauty of the objects of its worship; and the Lycaonians were genuine idolaters.

The chief speaker.--Literally, the ruler of speech--taking the chief part in it.

Verse 12. - Mercury for Mercurius, A.V. For the Latin Jupiter and Mercury the Greek original has Zeus and Hermes. Jupiter is Jovis Pater, where Jovis or Diovis or Dies (in Diespiter) is the Latin form of Zeus, gen. Δίος. Mercury is Hermes in his special character as the god of markets and trade. But the Lycaonians here thought of him in his principal character of herald and messenger of the gods, and hence the god of eloquence and speech.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Barnabas
Βαρνάβαν (Barnaban)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 921: Of Chaldee origin; son of Nabas; Barnabas, an Israelite.

they called
ἐκάλουν (ekaloun)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2564: (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'.

Zeus,
Δία (Dia)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2203: Zeus, the Greek god of the sky in all its manifestations, corresponding to the Roman Jupiter and to the leading god of the native Lycaonians.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

Paul
Παῦλον (Paulon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.

[they called] Hermes,
Ἑρμῆν (Hermēn)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2060: Perhaps from ereo; Hermes, the name of the messenger of the Greek deities; also of a Christian.

because
ἐπειδὴ (epeidē)
Conjunction
Strong's 1894: Of time: when, now, after that; of cause: seeing that, forasmuch as. From epei and de; since now, i.e. when, or whereas.

he
αὐτὸς (autos)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

was
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

chief
ἡγούμενος (hēgoumenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2233: (a) To lead, (b) To think, be of opinion, suppose, consider.

speaker.
λόγου (logou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.


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NT Apostles: Acts 14:12 They called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercury (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
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