Acts 14:11
What does Acts 14:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 14:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 14:11 means
The crowd interprets the miracle through a Lycaonian lens: “The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.” Rather than recognizing the Creator’s mercy, they assume a visitation of deities mythically known to appear disguised among mortals. Their exclamation reveals how worldview shapes response to God’s works. The danger is not only unbelief but misdirected belief—giving divine honors to human messengers. Luke’s detail about the local language shows the depth of cultural distance. A true sign from the living God is quickly co-opted by idolatry when hearts are unprepared to hear the gospel’s explanation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when the people saw what Paul had done, they said in a loud voice, in the language of Lycaonia, The gods have come down to us in the form of men.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the multitudes having seen what Paul did, did lift up their voice, in the speech of Lycaonia, saying, `The gods, having become like men, did come down unto us;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they called Barnabas, Jupiter: but Paul, Mercury: because he was chief speaker.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But the crowds, who saw what Paul had done, lifted up their voices in Lycaonian, saying, Thegods, having made themselves like men, are come down to us.
Context
Following the public healing (verse 10), verse 11 records the immediate reaction of the Lystra populace. This response introduces the central problem of the Lystra episode: the people misread the miracle and honor the apostles as gods. The next verse (12) identifies the specific deities they think have appeared, and verse 13 shows the priest’s zeal to institutionalize this mistake with sacrifices. This context is crucial for understanding Paul and Barnabas’s urgent rejection of worship and their creation-centered sermon (verses 14–17), aimed at redirecting praise to the living God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 8:10
to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.
- Acts 28:6
But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
- Acts 12:22
And the people shouted, saying, The voice of a god, and not of a man.
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