Acts 14:12 – “Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.”

Extended Explanation

This verse continues the reaction of the people of Lystra after witnessing Paul heal a man who had been lame from birth (Acts 14:8-10). Instead of recognizing this as a work of the one true God, they misinterpreted the miracle through their pagan beliefs.

They assumed Paul and Barnabas were Greek gods in human form—they called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes” because Paul was the main speaker. Zeus was considered the chief god in Greek mythology, while Hermes was the messenger of the gods, known for his speech and communication. Since Paul was doing most of the talking, they assumed he was Hermes and that Barnabas, who seemed more reserved, was Zeus.

This shows how people often misunderstand God’s work when they lack knowledge of the truth. The people of Lystra saw a real miracle but interpreted it through their own religious background instead of seeking the true source.

Historical Context

• Lystra was a Gentile city in Lycaonia, part of Galatia (modern-day Turkey). It was a rural town with little or no Jewish presence, meaning most of its people had no knowledge of the Old Testament or the God of Israel.
• The people of Lystra were pagans, worshiping multiple gods. They believed in myths where the gods sometimes came to earth disguised as humans.
• There was a local legend that Zeus and Hermes had once visited the region in disguise and were not welcomed by most people. According to the legend, only one poor couple showed them hospitality, and the rest of the city was punished. Because of this story, the people of Lystra were quick to assume that Paul and Barnabas were gods and wanted to honor them before making the same mistake.
• This reaction was not unusual for pagans—many ancient cultures believed their gods could take human form, and they were eager to avoid offending them.

Theological Implications

1. People Are Prone to Misunderstanding God – Without the truth of God’s Word, people will try to explain miracles and spiritual experiences through their own limited understanding.
2. Miracles Alone Are Not Enough to Lead to Right Belief – The people of Lystra saw a real act of God, but instead of worshiping Him, they tried to worship Paul and Barnabas. This shows that people need to hear the gospel clearly, not just witness miracles.
3. Idolatry is Deeply Rooted in the Human Heart – These people were so used to worshiping false gods that when they saw something supernatural, they automatically fit it into their idolatrous worldview. This is what happens when people replace the truth with man-made religion (Romans 1:25).

Literary Analysis

This verse uses direct, descriptive language to show how the people immediately assigned divine status to Paul and Barnabas:

• “Barnabas they called Zeus” – They assumed Barnabas was the chief god, possibly because he was older or had a more dignified appearance.
• “Paul they called Hermes” – Since Paul was the main speaker, they connected him to Hermes, the god of communication.

This misunderstanding sets the stage for the next part of the story, where the people try to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:13), and Paul rushes to correct them (Acts 14:15).

Biblical Cross-References

• Romans 1:21-23 – “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being…” (People have a natural tendency to worship created things instead of the Creator.)
• Exodus 20:3-4 – “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything…” (God commands that worship should be given to Him alone.)
• Acts 10:25-26 – “As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘I am only a man myself.’” (Even Peter had to stop people from worshiping him instead of God.)
• Matthew 4:10 – “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Jesus made it clear that only God deserves worship.)

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

1. People Still Misinterpret God’s Work Today – Just like the people of Lystra, many people today see God’s power at work but misunderstand it. Some credit the universe, luck, or human ability, instead of giving glory to God.
2. Idolatry Still Exists in Many Forms – While most people today don’t worship Zeus and Hermes, they idolize celebrities, money, success, and power. When we put anything above God, it becomes an idol.
3. We Must Teach the Truth Clearly – Miracles and good works are important, but people need to hear the gospel plainly or they will draw the wrong conclusions.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

• God Gives People a Chance to Learn the Truth – Instead of punishing the people of Lystra for their wrong beliefs, He gave them an opportunity to hear the true gospel through Paul (Acts 14:15).
• God Shows His Power Even to Those Who Don’t Know Him – The people of Lystra were spiritually ignorant, but God still reached out to them through a miracle.
• God Uses His Messengers to Correct False Beliefs – Paul and Barnabas didn’t accept the worship—they pointed the people to the one true God. God always guides people toward truth when they are willing to listen.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

1. Jesus is the True God in Human Form – The people of Lystra were wrongly expecting their gods to appear as men, but in reality, God did come to earth in human form through Jesus Christ (John 1:14).
2. Jesus Rejected False Worship – When people tried to worship Jesus for the wrong reasons, He corrected them, just like Paul and Barnabas did (Luke 18:18-19).
3. Jesus is the Only One Worthy of Worship – Unlike Paul and Barnabas, who were just messengers, Jesus is fully God and fully man, and He deserves all worship (Philippians 2:9-11).

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Why do you think the people of Lystra assumed Paul and Barnabas were gods instead of recognizing the true God?
2. How do people today misinterpret spiritual things in ways similar to the people of Lystra?
3. What are some modern-day idols that people worship instead of God?
4. How can we make sure we are pointing people to Jesus rather than drawing attention to ourselves?
5. Have you ever experienced a time when you misunderstood something about God? How did He correct you and bring you to the truth?