“And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.”
King James Version (KJV)
14:11 The gods are come down - Which the heathens supposed they frequently did; Jupiter especially. But how amazingly does the prince of darkness blind the minds of them that believe not! The Jews would not own Christ's Godhead, though they saw him work numberless miracles. On the other hand, the heathens seeing mere men work one miracle, were for deifying them immediately.
14:13 The priest of Jupiter - Whose temple and image were just without the gate of the city, brought garlands - To put on the victims, and bulls - The usual offerings to Jupiter.
14:14 They sprang in among the people, crying out - As in a fire, or other sudden and great danger.
Ac 14:12 Called Barnabas, Jupiter. The chief of the gods in the Greek and Roman Pantheon. Barnabas was no doubt a more stately man than Paul, who says that his own "bodily presence was weak and speech contemptible" (2Co 10:10), and there was also a reason why they thought Paul, Mercurius. Mercury was the "interpreter of the gods". His Greek name, "Hermes", is the origin of our word "Hermeneutics". Paul, eloquent, persuasive, active, was thought to represent the part of Mercury.