The answer is: Jupiter

Acts 14:12

When Paul and Barnabas were on their missionary journey and reached Lystra, something pretty fascinating happened. The townsfolk, captivated by their miraculous abilities, mistook Barnabas for Jupiter, the Roman god who ruled the sky and was considered the king of the other gods. This sets up a truly striking contrast between the early Christian message and the existing pagan beliefs in the area.

It's noteworthy that Lystra was part of a region steeped in Greek and Roman culture. So when the people shouted that Barnabas was Jupiter, they weren't throwing around a common name; they were unwittingly elevating him to the status of divine. Paul, on the other hand, was likened to Mercury (aka Hermes), the messenger god. This naming not only illustrates the confusion between the gospel’s core message and local mythology, but it also highlights Paul's persistence to redirect this adulation back to the one true God.

Now there’s a flip side to this story: It raises points about the hazards of hero worship. Despite the hype, Paul and Barnabas quickly tore their garments and proclaimed that they were simply human beings bringing a message of the living God. Their quick reaction reminds us how important humility and clarity of purpose are when sharing one’s beliefs, especially in a world that often prefers to deify the deliverers rather than the message itself. And isn’t that as relevant today as it was back then?