God’s Word Translation
Acts 14:13
13Zeus’ temple was at the entrance to the city. The priest of the god Zeus brought bulls with flowery wreaths around their necks to the temple gates. The priest and the crowd wanted to offer a sacrifice ⌞to Paul and Barnabas⌟.
Acts 14:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
Context of Acts 14:13
11The crowds who saw what Paul had done shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come to us, and they look human.” 12They addressed Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes because Paul did most of the talking. Zeus’ temple was at the entrance to the city. The priest of the god Zeus brought bulls with flowery wreaths around their necks to the temple gates. The priest and the crowd wanted to offer a sacrifice ⌞to Paul and Barnabas⌟. 14When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they were very upset. They rushed into the crowd 15and said, “Men, what are you doing? We’re human beings like you. We’re spreading the Good News to you to turn you away from these worthless gods to the living God. The living God made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them.
Read all of Acts 14Acts 14:13 word by word
ὅ τε ἱερεὺς τοῦ Διὸς τοῦ ὄντος πρὸ τῆς πόλεως ταύρους καὶ στέμματα ἐπὶ τοὺς πυλῶνας ἐνέγκας σὺν τοῖς ὄχλοις ἤθελεν θύειν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenδέde · thenG1161
- the priestἱερεύςhiereus · priestG2409
- of Jupiterὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- of JupiterΖεύς, ΔίςZeus · ZeusG2203
- which wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- beforeπρόpro · beforeG4253
- theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
- broughtφέρωpherō̄ · to bear/leadG5342
- oxenταῦροςtauros · bullG5022
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- garlandsστέμμαstemma · wreathG4725
- untoἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the gatesπυλώνpulōn · gateG4440
- and would haveθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- done sacrificeθύωthuō · to sacrificeG2380
- withσύνsun · withG4862
- the peopleὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
Cross-references for Acts 14:13
Commentaries on Acts 14:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city - There is a meaning here, which ordinary readers will not readily apprehend. Many cities were put under the protection of a particular deity; and the image of that deity placed at the entrance, to signify that he was the guardian and protector. To this St. Luke, every where as accurate as he is circumstantial, refers. Lystra, it appears, was under the guardianship of Jupiter Propulaius, , which St…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Then the priest of Jupiter - He whose office it was to conduct the worship of Jupiter by offering sacrifices, etc. Which was before their city - The word “which” here refers not to the priest, but to Jupiter. The temple or image of Jupiter was in front of their city, or near the gates. Ancient cities were supposed to be under the protection of particular gods; and their image, or a temple for their worship, was placed commonly in a conspicuous place at…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-18Verses 8-18 All things are possible to those that believe. When we have faith, that most precious gift of God, we shall be delivered from the spiritual helplessness in which we were born, and from the dominion of sinful habits since formed; we shall be made able to stand upright and walk cheerfully in the ways of the Lord. When Christ, the Son of God, appeared in the likeness of men, and did many miracles, men were so far from doing sacrifice to him, that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-13Zeus was the main god worshiped in Lystra, and the city had a temple for him. The people thought Barnabas was Zeus, likely because he seemed more impressive or powerful. They thought Paul was Hermes because he was the main speaker. The people of Lystra believed the gods were visiting them again. This idea comes from a well-known story by the poet Ovid. In that story, Zeus and Hermes visited the area but were not recognized, except by an old couple (see…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1311-13. in the speech of Lycaonia--whether a corruption of the Greek tongue, which was well enough understood in this region, or the remains of some older tongue, is not known. The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men--the language of an unsophisticated people. But "that which was a superstition in Lycaonia, and for which the whole "creation" groaned, became a reality at Bethlehem" [Webster and Wilkinson].Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 14:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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