The BibleGospel Companion

Mercury

Every entry below is printed as its editors wrote it, with the edition named.

Smith's 1884ISBE 19152 verse references

Smith's 1884

(Acts 14:12) the translation of the above in the Revised Version.

Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · public domain

ISBE 1915

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915). Where it reports or adopts critical theories, those are the views of its writers or the scholars they cite; Gospel Companion holds the historic Christian view of Scripture.

mur'-ku-ri, mer-ku'ri-us: The translation of Hermes, in Ac 14:12: "They called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker." Hermes was the god of eloquence (and also of theft), the attendant, messenger and spokesman of the gods. The more commanding presence of Barnabas (compare 2Co 10:10) probably caused him to be identified with Zeus (the Roman Jupiter), while his gift of eloquence suggested the identification of Paul with Hermes (the Roman Mercury). The temple of Jupiter was before Lystra, and to him the Lycaonians paid their chief worship. Compare the legend of Baucis and Philemon (Ovid, Metam. viii.611 f).

See HERMES; JUPITER; GREECE, RELIGION IN ANCIENT.

M. O. Evans

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · public domain

In Scripture

Acts 14:122 Corinthians 10:10
2 references found in the entries above · verse links open the World English Bible

Sources