The answer is: Jupiter and Mercury

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

In the bustling city of Lystra, the crowd's exuberance leads to a monumental misunderstanding. They mistook Paul and Barnabas for the gods Jupiter (Zeus) and Mercury (Hermes), reflecting how intertwined divine legends were in their culture. This wasn’t just a fluke; it illustrates an interesting connection between ancient people and their surroundings. They were accustomed to deities interacting with humanity, so seeing two charismatic men healing a man was a cue for them to jump to conclusions about the supernatural!

Lystra wasn't politically city-smoothed like Corinth or Athens. Instead, it had strong connections to folklore and local myths, undeniable influences that shaped their perceptions. The myth of Hermes traveling to deliver messages seemingly became a backdrop to Paul's significant work. And here's a trivia tidbit: temples dedicated to these worshiped gods were not far away, reflecting Lystra’s polytheistic roots.

Paul's swift reaction showcases an invaluable lesson—he countered the praise and redirected it towards God. He passionately asserts, “We are mere mortals!” (as noted in Acts 14:15). This counters the popular narrative of human-divine syncretism. We see echoes of the same theme in later scriptures where figures like Moses also stressed reliance on a singular divine force rather than themselves. Each nook and cranny of the Bible reveals a tapestry of beliefs, navigating through a blend of cultural ideas and spiritual truths while challenging ancient prejudice with humility.