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Amplified Bible

Acts 14:12

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.

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

8Now at Lystra a man sat who was unable to use his feet, for he was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, and Paul looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed, 10and said with a loud voice, "Stand up on your feet." And he jumped up and began to walk. 11And the crowds, when they saw what Paul had done, raised their voices, shouting in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" 12They began calling Barnabas, Zeus [chief of the Greek gods], and Paul, Hermes [messenger of the Greek gods], since he took the lead in speaking.13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance of the city, brought bulls and garlands to the city gates, and wanted to offer sacrifices with the crowds. 14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15"Men, why are you doing these things? We too are only men of the same nature as you, bringing the good news to you, so that you turn from these useless and meaningless things to the living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THEM. 16"In generations past He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17yet He did not leave Himself without some witness [as evidence of Himself], in that He kept constantly doing good things and showing you kindness, and giving you rains from heaven and productive seasons, filling your hearts with food and happiness."

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
Now these are the records of the descendants of Terah. Terah was the father of Abram (Abraham), Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot.
Genesis 12:5
Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had acquired, and the people (servants) which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,
Genesis 14:9
against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
Genesis 14:11
Then the victors took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply and provisions and left.
Genesis 14:12
And they also took [captive] Lot, Abram's nephew, and his possessions and left, for he was living in Sodom.
Genesis 14:13
Then a survivor who had escaped [from the invading forces on the other side of the Jordan] came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was living by the terebinths (oaks) of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner—they were allies of Abram.
Genesis 14:17
Then after Abram's return from the defeat (slaughter) of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).
Genesis 14:19
And Melchizedek blessed Abram and said, "Blessed (joyful, favored) be Abram by God Most High, Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth;
Numbers 16:26
And he said to the congregation, "Get away from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, or you will be swept away in all their sin."
Job 9:23
"When [His] scourge kills suddenly, He mocks at the despair of the innocent.

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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