Acts 14:12 Meaning and Explanation
“And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →They name Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius, because Paul is the chief speaker.
What Does Acts 14:12 Mean?
The crowd sorts the missionaries into its pantheon: Barnabas is taken for the chief of the gods, and Paul, who carries the message, for the gods' herald and spokesman. The names are given in their Latin forms in this translation; the crowd would have spoken of Zeus and Hermes.
There is something piercing in the mistake: the men sent to announce the living God are mistaken for the very idols they came to displace. Honor is being offered, and it is aimed at the messengers instead of the Sender. Every servant of Christ eventually faces some small version of this moment — admiration that stops at the human instrument — and the verses that follow show what faithfulness does with it.
Acts 14:12 in the Original Language
Hermes (Ἑρμῆς), 'Mercurius' -- the herald and spokesman of the Greek gods; this translation uses his Latin name.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 14:12
What does Acts 14:12 mean?
They name Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius, because Paul is the chief speaker.