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Bible Trivia Question

Bible Trivia Question

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In which city were Paul and Barnabas worshipped as gods?


Lystra
Antioch
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The answer is: Lystra

Acts 14:11-13 - In Lystra, the miraculous healing of a crippled man led the locals to mistakenly identify Paul and Barnabas as deities, calling them Hermes and Zeus. This event highlights both the dangers of misunderstanding divine miracles and the cultural context of ancient polytheism, paralleling Peter's experience in Acts 10 with Cornelius.

In Lystra, when Paul and Barnabas heal a crippled man, it sets off quite the uproar. The locals are so amazed that they start shouting, attributing their divine powers to them and declaring Paul as Hermes, the messenger of the gods, and Barnabas as Zeus, the chief god of Olympus. This reflects a larger theme within the New Testament where miracles lead to a spectrum of belief and reactions from people.

Curiously, this moment in Acts 14 not only emphasizes how easy it is to misconstrue the intentions behind miraculous acts but also illustrates the deep-rooted nature of ancient Greco-Roman polytheism. Lystra itself was a town steeped in its own local myths and stories, some even suggesting that it was near where the legendary encounter between the gods and mortals occurred. Engaging in such cultural resonance helped to highlight the clash between new Christian ideas and established traditions.

Yet Paul and Barnabas quickly rejected this veneration and pointed back to the source of their power—God. Their response not only honors the true source of the miracle but also serves as a call for the people to turn from their idols. This incident also parallels Peter's encounter with Cornelius in Acts 10, where the importance of proper understanding of divine encounters takes center stage. Both instances underscore that, while astonishing instances of divine intervention bring awe, recognition of the one true form of divinity is paramount.

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