WHEN PAUL AND BARNABAS HEALED A CRIPPLE AT LYSTRA, THE PEOPLE NAMED THEM

• A. Zeus and Hermes ✓
• B. Zeus and Apollo
• C. Jupiter and Mercury
• D. Zeus and Mars

The answer to the question is: A. Zeus and Hermes

When Paul and Barnabas healed a cripple at Lystra, the people named them Zeus and Hermes. This event is recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, specifically in the book of Acts, chapter 14, verses 8-18. The account describes how Paul and Barnabas were mistaken for gods by the people of Lystra after healing a man who had been crippled from birth. The people called Paul “Hermes” and Barnabas “Zeus” because Paul was the chief speaker and Hermes was considered the messenger of the gods, while Barnabas was associated with Zeus, the chief deity in Greek mythology.

The naming of Paul and Barnabas as Zeus and Hermes reflects the cultural context of the time. In ancient Greek and Roman mythology, Zeus was the king of the gods and Hermes was his messenger. The people of Lystra likely interpreted the miraculous healing as a sign of divine power and attributed it to these mythological figures.

This event also illustrates the challenge faced by early Christian missionaries in communicating their message to people with different religious beliefs. It shows how cultural context influenced the perception of their actions and how they had to clarify their identity as messengers of the one true God.