Acts 14:13
What does Acts 14:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 14:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 14:13 means
The priest of Jupiter, whose temple stood before the city, brings oxen and garlands to the city gates, intending to lead public sacrifice with the crowds. Idolatry now moves from impulse to institution. What began as astonishment becomes a civic-religious ceremony. The scene exposes how entrenched and attractive false worship can be when coupled with cultural identity and tradition. It also shows the danger to Paul and Barnabas: if they accept, they betray their message; if they refuse, they may offend the populace. The true God’s servants must point away from themselves, even at personal cost, to honor the One who alone deserves sacrifice and praise.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the priest of the image of Jupiter, which was before the town, took oxen and flowers to the doors of the town, and was about to make an offering with the people.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the priest of the Zeus that is before their city, oxen and garlands unto the porches having brought, with the multitudes did wish to sacrifice,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Which, when the apostles Barnabas and Paul had heard, rending their clothes, they leaped out among the people, crying,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the priest of Jupiter who was before the city, having brought bulls and garlands to the gates, would have done sacrifice along with the crowds.
Context
After the people identify the apostles as gods (verses 11–12), verse 13 escalates matters by involving the local priest and formal sacrifice. This development sets the urgent backdrop for the apostles’ reaction in verse 14 and their corrective proclamation in verse 15. The momentum of the crowd is against them; only decisive action can redirect it. The following verses will present a concise sermon to pagans, emphasizing the living Creator and His goodness, attempting to restrain the misdirected worship and reorient hearts toward the true God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 2:46
Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors unto him.
- Acts 10:25
And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
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