What does Acts 14:13 mean?
When Jesus called Paul to follow Him and be His apostle to the Gentiles, He promised intense suffering (Acts 9:16). So far, Paul has seen comparatively minor persecution, including being run out of Damascus (Acts 9:23–25), Jerusalem (Acts 9:28–30), Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:50), and Iconium (Acts 14:5–6). At this point, it's unlikely Paul imagined people would try to dedicate sacrifices to him as the Greek god Hermes or adorn him with garlands of wool. If Paul does not speak the local language natively (Acts 14:11), it might explain why he takes a moment to understand their intent.Paul is trying to share Christ's offer of salvation to a crowd in Lystra. When he notices a crippled man has placed his faith in Christ, Paul tells the man to stand, and God heals him. Since Paul does most of the speaking, the crowd surmises he must be Hermes and Barnabas, Paul's ministry partner, must be Zeus (Acts 14:8–12). Although these are names of two prominent Greek gods, they're also the names given to regional father and son gods. Either way, the people determine that the only appropriate response is to offer sacrifices to the visiting deities.
About three years before, another crowd declared a man was a god, which did not end well. Herod Agrippa I stood before the audience of games he had organized in Caesarea Maritima, his capital. He wore clothing made of silver which shone brightly in the morning sun. In response, the crowd shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" (Acts 12:22).
Josephus, an ancient historian, explained that Agrippa had been a friend to the Jews. He kept Caligula from placing a statue of himself in the temple and regularly read the Mosaic law. As an act of friendship with the Jewish leaders, he beheaded James the apostle and arrested Peter (Acts 12:1–5). In this moment of adoration, however, he hesitated—exulting in the crowd's praises rather than giving the glory to God. In response, he spent the next five days in terrible pain as worms ate his bowels before he died (Acts 12:23).
Paul and Barnabas have no interest in sharing such a fate. As soon as they realize what is happening, they tear their clothes and reason with the people (Acts 14:14).
