Acts 14:11-15 - The gods have come down to us

14:11-13

The people were amazed, and they thought that the “gods have come down to us in human form”. In that region there was a belief that Zeus and Hermes had once visited the area, but had received no hospitality except from one couple (Bruce).  This is why they called Barnabas and Paul Zeus and Hermes. They didn’t want to make the same mistake as during the first visit (mythical) of Zeus and Hermes, so they wanted to make sacrifices to them.

14:14,15

Paul and Barnabas initially did not understand what was going on, for the people were speaking in the local dialect. When they did realise what was happening they were horrified. They told the people that they were not gods, but men, and that they were bringing good news. The people should turn from their worthless gods and turn to the living God. We should realise how offensive this would be to the people. They thought they were doing a good thing in offering the sacrifices, and their lives involved worshipping these gods. They were now told that their gods were worthless, and that they had been acting wrongly. Even though the message involved the promise of new life, one can understand why they would be offended. A similar dynamic occurs today when we confront the “woke” culture.