Acts 14 Footnotes

14:11 Confusion stems from the fact that some Lystrans spoke Lycaonian—one of many indigenous languages that continued in this region until the second century.

14:12 Lystra apparently had a mythological tradition of previous visitations by Greek gods—such as Zeus and Hermes (the Roman Jupiter and Mercury)—whom they continued to worship (v. 13). Barnabas may have been equated with Zeus and Paul with Hermes because of the following. (1) Barnabas was the leader of the group (Zeus was Hermes’s father and leader of the Greek pantheon). (2) Barnabas appeared to be a more imposing figure than Paul. (3) The messenger god Hermes may have described Paul, the group’s spokesman, more aptly.

14:15-18 Paul used arguments based on natural theology in his speech to the pagans—arguments derived from God’s self-revelation in creation (cp. similarities with 17:16-32). This approach was especially fitting because these pagans saw their Greco-Roman gods as part of nature. Similarly, in Rm 1:18-32, Paul addressed a mixed audience with the same kind of arguments.

14:19 In 2Co 11:23-25, Paul may be referring to this event of stoning—a severe bodily trauma. He was left for dead.

14:21 These cities were part of the province of Galatia. The problems addressed in the book of Galatians were consistent with the reaction Paul and Barnabas incited when evangelizing there.

14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders—a necessary role within the early church (20:17). There is no reason to doubt this development.