Bible Trivia

Bible Trivia Question

Bible Trivia Question

What's the Answer?

Which gods did the people of Lystra think Paul and Barnabas were?


Pluto and Bacchus
Jupiter and Mercury
Apollo and Mars
Saturn and Janus

Find this question in our Acts of the Apostles Bible Quiz

The answer is: Jupiter and Mercury

Acts 14:12 - also Zeus and Hermes in the Greek.

In Acts 14, we witness an interesting twist as Paul and Barnabas embark on their missionary travels. When they heal a lame man in Lystra, the locals, steeped in their own beliefs, mistakenly recognize them as the gods Jupiter (Zeus) and Mercury (Hermes). It’s amusing yet telling how the human mind often defaults to the recognizable and the familiar, even creating caricatures of persecution!

This ancient town didn’t have the Jewish traditions shaping their beliefs, so to them these two apostles shone brightly as representatives of divine beings. Jupiter, known as the king of the gods, was associated with rain and sky, while Mercury facilitated communication between gods and humans, much like how Paul and Barnabas were spreading messages on behalf of the divine.

Across Greek literature and mythology, these references resonate with Hermes being the quick-footed trickster, echoing later themes in stories of quick early followers spreading hurried news. Additionally, there’s an eerie reflection on how even today, many assume symbols or figures represent divine acts or motives, pointing to our innate search for understanding and connection to a higher power.

The quick turn to idolatry by the townspeople teaches a valuable lesson about perception vs. reality in our search for faith. Rather than seeking celebrity status, Paul and Barnabas redirect all glory back to the true God, stressing humility over human pride. This callback to their humble beginnings is a farewell to boasting and an invitation to genuine faith.

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