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.
The priest from Jupiter's temple right outside town showed up at the city gates with oxen and flower wreaths, ready to offer sacrifices along with everyone else.
Even the local priest thought Paul and Barnabas were worth worshipping, talk about a case of mistaken identity.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Acts, Paul and Barnabas were on a missionary journey, preaching the Gospel in various cities of the ancient Roman Empire. In Lystra, after Paul healed a lame man, the local people mistakenly thought they were gods like Zeus (known as Jupiter to the Romans) and prepared to worship them with sacrifices, reflecting the common polytheistic culture where cities had temples and priests dedicated to multiple deities. This event highlights the clash between early Christian teaching and prevailing pagan practices.
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