Acts 14:13 Meaning: When People Mistook Apostles for Gods
The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes.
Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes.
And the priest of the Zeus that is before their city, oxen and garlands unto the porches having brought, with the multitudes did wish to sacrifice,
And the priest of Jupiter who was before the city, having brought bulls and garlands to the gates, would have done sacrifice along with the crowds.
Meaning in one sentence
In Acts 14:13, the priest of Zeus brings bulls and wreaths to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.
Context
Luke brings us into the middle of Paul and Barnabas’s first missionary journey. They had just seen a man lame from birth leap to his feet after Paul commanded him to stand. The crowd in Lystra, speaking their own Lycaonian language, was convinced that the gods had come down in human form. They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because Paul did most of the speaking. The local priest of Zeus, whose temple stood at the city’s entrance as a sign that the god was their guardian, saw an opportunity. He brought oxen and garlands to the gates and prepared to offer a sacrifice to the apostles along with the whole crowd. The next verses show Paul and Barnabas tearing their clothes and rushing out to stop them.
Key Words
Three Greek words give us the feel of this scene. First, hiereus (priest) was the same word used for Jewish priests in the Greek Old Testament. But here the priest served Zeus, the chief god of the Greek pantheon. He was a professional, trained in the rituals that kept the city under divine protection. Second, stemmata (garlands) were wreaths of flowers or leaves placed on the heads of sacrificial animals. They made the oxen look festive, like a gift wrapped for a god. Third, the verb thuein (to sacrifice) meant to slaughter an animal and offer it to a deity. All three words point in the same direction: the priest was fully prepared to worship Barnabas and Paul. That is what the apostles had to stop.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators notice different things here. Adam Clarke (Methodist) explains that the temple of Zeus stood “before the city” as a guardian deity. The priest served Jupiter Custos, the protector. Calvin (Reformed) reads the priest’s eagerness as driven by covetousness, he saw a chance for his temple to become famous. Matthew Henry (Reformed) focuses on the apostles’ horror: they tore their clothes to show that this worship was intolerable. The Cambridge Bible (Anglican) notes that the gates may have been the porch of the house where the apostles were staying. Each tradition highlights a part of the picture, the cultural setting, the human motive, or the apostles’ response, without disagreeing on the core: this was a serious test of faithfulness.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the priest was simply offering a friendly gift, like bringing dinner to honored guests. In fact, oxen and garlands were the standard equipment for a pagan sacrifice. The garlands decorated the animals; the oxen would be slaughtered and offered on an altar. This was a religious ceremony, not hospitality. The priest intended to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods, which is why the apostles reacted with such alarm.
Living This Out
You will probably never have a priest bring you oxen and garlands. But you may receive praise that belongs to God, a compliment on your talent, credit for a success, respect for your wisdom. This week, when someone thanks you for something good, try saying what Barnabas and Paul said: “We are human beings just like you.” Then point them to the living God who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. Let the praise pass through you to the One who deserves it.
Main takeaway: Even when people mistake you for someone special, your job is to turn their worship away from yourself and toward the only true God.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
A priest wanted to give a present to Paul and Barnabas because he thought they were gods. But Paul and Barnabas said, “No! We are not gods. Only God deserves presents like that.”
For ages 9, 12
When Paul healed a man who had never walked, the people of Lystra were amazed. They thought Barnabas and Paul were the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes. So the priest of Zeus brought animals and flower wreaths to offer a sacrifice to them. But Paul and Barnabas were upset. They tore their clothes and shouted that they were just ordinary people, and that everyone should worship the real God who made heaven and earth.
Questions People Ask
Why did the people think Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Mercury?
They saw a miraculous healing and believed the gods had come down in human form. In Greek mythology, Zeus was the chief god and Hermes (Mercury) was his messenger. Since Paul did most of the talking, they assumed he was the messenger god, while Barnabas, perhaps older or more imposing, seemed like Zeus.
What does 'the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city' mean?
It means the temple or image of Zeus stood at the entrance of the city. Ancient cities often placed their patron god’s temple near the gate as a sign of protection. The priest served that particular manifestation of Zeus, known as Jupiter Custos or the guardian.
Why did the priest bring oxen and garlands?
Oxen were the typical animal sacrifice offered to Zeus. Garlands (wreaths) were placed on the heads of the animals to decorate them for the ceremony. The priest brought everything needed to perform a formal sacrifice to honor Barnabas and Paul as gods.
How did Paul and Barnabas respond?
They tore their clothes as a sign of horror and grief (a traditional Jewish expression of anguish), then rushed into the crowd shouting that they were only human. They urged the people to turn away from worthless idols and worship the living God who created everything.
What can we learn from this incident about idolatry?
Idolatry can take many forms, even sincere attempts to honor someone. The apostles showed that no good deed or miracle should ever lead people to worship anyone but God. We learn to redirect praise away from ourselves and to keep our eyes on the one true Creator.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study