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Acts 14:11-18
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Acts 14:11-18
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in human form.”(A) 12 They called Barnabas “Zeus”[a] and Paul “Hermes,” because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.
14 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments[b] when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15 [c]“Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, ‘who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.’(B) 16 In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;(C) 17 yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”(D) 18 Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
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- 14:12 Zeus…Hermes: in Greek religion, Zeus was the chief of the Olympian gods, the “father of gods and men”; Hermes was a son of Zeus and was usually identified as the herald and messenger of the gods.
- 14:14 Tore their garments: a gesture of protest.
- 14:15–17 This is the first speech of Paul to Gentiles recorded by Luke in Acts (cf. Acts 17:22–31). Rather than showing how Christianity is the logical outgrowth of Judaism, as he does in speeches before Jews, Luke says that God excuses past Gentile ignorance and then presents a natural theology arguing for the recognition of God’s existence and presence through his activity in natural phenomena.
Acts 14:11-18
New International Version
Acts 14:11-18
New International Version
11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”(A) 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.(B) 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes(C) and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human,(D) like you. We are bringing you good news,(E) telling you to turn from these worthless things(F) to the living God,(G) who made the heavens and the earth(H) and the sea and everything in them.(I) 16 In the past, he let(J) all nations go their own way.(K) 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony:(L) He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons;(M) he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”(N) 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
Acts 14:11-18
King James Version
Acts 14:11-18
King James Version
11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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