Acts 14 11

Acts 14:11 kjv

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.

Acts 14:11 nkjv

Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"

Acts 14:11 niv

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!"

Acts 14:11 esv

And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"

Acts 14:11 nlt

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, "These men are gods in human form!"

Acts 14 verses

Acts 14 11 Meaning

Acts chapter 14 verse 11 describes the immediate reaction of the people of Lystra to the miracle performed by Paul, where a man lame from birth was healed. Seeing the supernatural power demonstrated, the crowd, operating within their polytheistic worldview, concluded that Barnabas and Paul were gods who had descended to them, taking on human form. This declaration, shouted in their native Lycaonian dialect, signified their belief that the divine had manifested among them in a recognizable, physical manner, mirroring their ancient myths of gods visiting humanity.

Acts 14 11 Context

Acts chapter 14 continues the narrative of Paul and Barnabas's first missionary journey. After facing persecution and hostility in Pisidian Antioch and Iconium, they fled to Lystra, a city in Lycaonia. Unlike Antioch and Iconium, which had Jewish synagogues and a more established Greco-Roman presence, Lystra appears to have been a less Hellenized, more provincial town with strong traditional pagan beliefs. The specific cultural context of Lystra is vital: the people were deeply immersed in local myths, including the well-known legend of Zeus and Hermes visiting the region disguised as men (the story of Baucis and Philemon). In this account, only one old couple welcomed them, and the rest of the villagers perished in a flood for their inhospitality. This myth would make the Lystrans exceptionally sensitive to treating any perceived divine visitors with reverence, fearful of divine wrath if they failed to honor them. Immediately preceding verse 11, Paul, seeing the faith of a man lame from birth, commands him to "stand upright on your feet," and the man instantly heals and walks. This instantaneous and visible miracle sparks the crowd's reaction, driven by their ingrained pagan framework rather than a monotheistic understanding of God's power.

Acts 14 11 Word analysis

• And when the multitudes (ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ ὄχλοι - idontes de hoi ochloi): "Multitudes" indicates a large, excited crowd. The phrase highlights their direct and immediate visual perception of Paul's miracle (v.10). Their response is collective and overwhelming.
• saw what Paul had done: The miracle was clear, undeniable, and publicly observed. It was the direct catalyst for their misinterpretation.
• they lifted up their voices (ἐπῆραν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν - epēran tēn phōnen autōn): This signifies a loud, enthusiastic shout or cry. It's an expression of astonishment, awe, and perhaps fearful reverence, characteristic of collective pagan exultation or alarm when encountering the divine.
• saying in the Lycaonian speech (λέγοντες ἐν τῇ Λυκαονιστὶ διαλέκτῳ - legontes en tē Lykaonisti dialektō): This is a critical detail. Lycaonian was a local dialect, not common Greek (koine). The implication is that Paul and Barnabas did not immediately understand what the crowd was shouting, contributing to the confusion that escalates until they are made aware of the intention (v.14). This highlights the deep local identity and cultural rootedness of their beliefs. It signifies their speech was deeply personal to their specific community and religious practices.
• The gods (Οἱ θεοὶ - Hoi theoi): The use of the plural "gods" immediately reveals their polytheistic belief system. They don't attribute the miracle to the one true God, but rather to a visitation from their pantheon.
• are come down to us (κατέβησαν πρὸς ἡμᾶς - katebēsan pros hēmas): "Come down" literally means "descended." This reflects the ancient belief that gods descended from Mount Olympus or the heavens to interact with mortals on Earth, a common trope in Greco-Roman mythology. "To us" indicates a personal, direct, and significant visitation for their community.
• in the likeness of men (ὁμοιωθέντες ἀνθρώποις - homoiōthentes anthrōpois): The Greek word homoiothentes means "having been made like," "resembling," or "taking on the appearance of." This perfectly aligns with their myths of gods disguising themselves as humans for their earthly interactions. It means the gods are now identical in appearance to men.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men": This complete phrase encapsulates the pagan misunderstanding. The miracle was interpreted through their theological framework – not as a demonstration of the power of the One True God, but as a reaffirmation of their existing polytheistic and anthropomorphic view of the divine. This specific phrasing highlights their fear and superstition derived from their mythology, compelling them to react in worship rather than seek to understand the source of Paul's power through a monotheistic lens.

Acts 14 11 Bonus section

• The identification of Barnabas as Zeus (the chief god) and Paul as Hermes (the messenger or speaker) by the Lycaonians, as noted in the following verses (Acts 14:12), is a strong indicator of their interpretation of the "likeness of men" based on traditional roles within their pantheon. Barnabas was likely more imposing or elder in appearance, and Paul, as "the chief speaker," aligned with Hermes, the messenger god.
• The incident highlights the common missionary challenge of encountering deeply ingrained syncretistic beliefs, where God's power might be acknowledged but assimilated into existing pagan frameworks rather than replacing them with monotheistic truth.
• The immediate, vocal response demonstrates the raw, unthinking fervor of a crowd, particularly when fear or superstition dictates their actions. They reacted instinctively to what they perceived as divine presence, rather than thoughtfully considering the source or nature of the power displayed.

Acts 14 11 Commentary

Acts 14:11 is a crucial verse illustrating the cultural and theological clash faced by early Christian missionaries. The miraculous healing of the lame man, intended as a sign pointing to the one true God, was entirely misinterpreted by the Lystrans through the filter of their pagan beliefs. Their immediate cry, "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men," reflects a mind steeped in myth and superstition, particularly the pervasive tales of gods (like Zeus and Hermes, often identified with Barnabas and Paul, respectively, due to their perceived roles – the leader and the speaker) descending in human guise. This moment powerfully underscores the reality that signs and wonders, while demonstrations of divine power, do not inherently lead to true spiritual understanding without accompanying revelation and explanation of the Giver. The people saw the power but attributed it to the wrong source, moving from one form of spiritual blindness (disbelief in God's power) to another (idolatrous worship of men). This foreshadows the extreme volatility of their allegiance, as the same crowd would soon stone Paul (Acts 14:19), demonstrating the perilous fickleness of unanchored public opinion. It serves as a potent reminder that divine acts can be twisted by human frameworks if not properly contextualized within God's truth.