SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:13
Y el sacerdote de Jpiter, que estaba delante de la ciudad de ellos, trayendo toros y guirnaldas delante de las puertas, quería con el pueblo sacrificarles.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 14:13
Verse 13. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city] There is a meaning here, which ordinary readers will not readily apprehend. Many cities were put under the protection of a particular deity; and the image of that deity placed at the entrance, to signify that he was the guardian and protector. To this St. Luke, every where as accurate as he is circumstantial, refers. Lystra, it appears, was under the guardianship of Jupiter Propulaius, diov propulaiou, which St. Luke translates, tou diov ontov thv polewv, the Jupiter that was before the city, which is another term for Jupiter Custos, or Jupiter the guardian. All these deities, according to the attributes they sustained, had their peculiar priests, rites, and sacrifices; and each a peculiar service and priest for the office he bore; so that Jupiter Brontes, Jupiter the thunderer, had a different service from Jupiter Custos, Jove the guardian. Hence we can see with what accuracy St. Luke wrote: the person who was going to offer them sacrifices was the priest of Jupiter Custos, under whose guardianship the city of Lystra was, and whom the priest supposed had visited the city in a human form; and Barnabas, probably for the reasons already assigned, he imagined was the person; and as Mercury, the god of eloquence, was the general attendant of Jupiter, the people and the priest supposed that Paul, who had a powerful, commanding eloquence, was that god, also disguised. A beautiful figure of such an image of Jupiter as, I suppose, stood before the gate of Lystra, still remains; and a fine engraving of it may be seen in Gruter's Inscriptions, vol. i. p. xx. Jupiter is represented naked, sitting on a curule or consular chair; in his right hand he holds his thunder, and a long staff in his left; at his right, stands the eagle prepared for flight; and, above, the winged cap and caduceus of Mercury. On the base is the inscription, IUPPITER CUSTOM DOMUS AUG. Jupiter, the guardian of the house of Augustus. As the preserver or guardian of towns, he was generally styled Jupiter Custos, Serenus and Servator. His name, JUPITER, i.e. jurans pater, the helping father, entitled him, in those days of darkness, to general regard. On this false god, who long engrossed the worship of even the most enlightened nations on the earth, much may be seen in Lactantius, Divinar.
Institution. lib. i., in the Antiquite expliquee of Montfaucon; and various inscriptions, relative to his character as guardian, &c., may be seen in Gruter, as above.
Oxen and garlands] That is, oxen adorned with flowers, their horns gilded, and neck bound about with fillets, as was the custom in sacrificial rites. They also crowned the gods themselves, the priests, and gates of the temples, with flowers. Of this method of adorning the victims, there are numerous examples in the Greek and Latin writers. A few may suffice.
Thus OVID: - Victima labe carens et praestantissima forma Sistitur ante aras; et vittis praesignis et auro.
OVID, Met. lib. xv. ver. 130.
The fairest victim must the powers appease, So fatal 'tis sometimes too much to please: A purple filet his broad brow adorns With flowery garlands, crown, and gilded horns. DRYDEN.
Huic Anius niveis circumdata tempora vittis Concutiens, et tristis ait; - Ibid. lib. xiii. ver. 643.
The royal prophet shook his hoary head, With fillets bound; and, sighing, thus he said - CALCOTT.- fovet ignibus aras, Muneribus deos implet: feriuntque secures Colla torosa boum vinctorum cornua vittis. Ibid. lib. vii. ver. 427.
Rich curling fumes of incense feast the skies, A hecatomb of voted victims dies, With gilded horns, and garlands on their head, In all the pomp of death to th' altar led. TATE.
VIRGIL also refers to the same rites and circumstances: - Saepe in honoure deum medio stans hostia ad aram Lanea dum nivea circumdatur infula vitta, Inter cunctantes cecidit moribunda ministros. VIRG. Georg. lib. iii. ver. 486.
The victim ox that was for altars pressed, Trimmed with white ribbons, and with garlands dressed, Sunk of himself, without the god's command, Preventing the slow sacrificer's hand. DRYDEN.
Many similar examples may be seen in Wetstein and others.
At the time of worship, the Hindoo priests place garlands of flowers on the head of the image. Whether the garlands were intended to decorate the oxen or the apostles, we cannot say; but in either case the conduct of the Lycaonians was conformable to that of the modern Hindoos.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city , etc.] Not that the priest was before the city, but Jupiter; and the phrase denotes either his presidency over the city, and so the Arabic version renders it, who was the chief god of their city; or the place where his image stood, which was out of the city, and so may be said to be before it; accordingly the Syriac version renders it, who was without the city; he who officiated as priest to him: brought oxen and garlands unto the gates ; either of the city, as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions add, where was the statue of Jupiter; or else, and which is most likely, he brought them to the gates of the house, where Paul and Barnabas were; and to this sense the Syriac version renders it, to the door of the dwelling place where they abode: what the oxen were brought for is easy to conceive, had it not been expressed; but for what should garlands or crowns be brought? These were used in sacrifices, for different purposes; sometimes they crowned the gods f716 , to whom they sacrificed, and these might be brought to be put upon the heads of Paul and Barnabas; and sometimes the priests wore them f717 , and which seems to be in imitation of the mitre, wore by the high priest among the Jews; and sometimes even those who came to sacrifice, and implore the assistance of their deities, wore them f718 ; likewise the altars on which they offered sacrifice were crowned with these garlands f719 ; and the sacrifices themselves, and which last seems to be the case here: the garlands were brought to be put upon the oxen; and these were for the most part made of cypress; sometimes of the pine tree, and sometimes of other leaves and flowers, such as were peculiar to the gods f720 : and there was something like this among the Jews, at the offerings of their first fruits, which were done in this manner f721 ; they that were nearest (to Jerusalem) brought green figs and grapes; and they that were more remote brought dried figs and raisins; and an ox went before them, whose horns were covered with gold, tyz l trj[w , and a crown of olives on his head; a pipe sounded before them, till they came near to Jerusalem, and then they sent some before them, who crowned their first fruits. And would have done sacrifice with the people ; that is, the priest and the people with him, would have offered sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, as to two deities; and the Syriac and Ethiopic versions add, to them; to both the apostles, with which agrees the Arabic version.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-18 - All things are possible to those that believe. When we have faith, tha most precious gift of God, we shall be delivered from the spiritual helplessness in which we were born, and from the dominion of sinfu habits since formed; we shall be made able to stand upright and wal cheerfully in the ways of the Lord. When Christ, the Son of God appeared in the likeness of men, and did many miracles, men were so fa from doing sacrifice to him, that they made him a sacrifice to their pride and malice; but Paul and Barnabas, upon their working on miracle, were treated as gods. The same power of the god of this world which closes the carnal mind against truth, makes errors and mistake find easy admission. We do not learn that they rent their clothes when the people spake of stoning them; but when they spake of worshippin them; they could not bear it, being more concerned for God's honou than their own. God's truth needs not the services of man's falsehood The servants of God might easily obtain undue honours if they woul wink at men's errors and vices; but they must dread and detest suc respect more than any reproach. When the apostles preached to the Jews who hated idolatry, they had only to preach the grace of God in Christ but when they had to do with the Gentiles, they must set right their mistakes in natural religion. Compare their conduct and declaratio with the false opinions of those who think the worship of a God, unde any name, or in any manner, is equally acceptable to the Lord Almighty The most powerful arguments, the most earnest and affectionat addresses, even with miracles, are scarcely enough to keep men from absurdities and abominations; much less can they, without specia grace, turn the hearts of sinners to God and to holiness.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ιερευς 2409 N-NSM του 3588 T-GSM διος 2203 N-GSM του 3588 T-GSM οντος 5607 5752 V-PXP-GSM προ 4253 PREP της 3588 T-GSF πολεως 4172 N-GSF αυτων 846 P-GPM ταυρους 5022 N-APM και 2532 CONJ στεμματα 4725 N-APN επι 1909 PREP τους 3588 T-APM πυλωνας 4440 N-APM ενεγκας 5342 5660 V-AAP-NSM συν 4862 PREP τοις 3588 T-DPM οχλοις 3793 N-DPM ηθελεν 2309 5707 V-IAI-3S θυειν 2380 5721 V-PAN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
13. Of Jupiter (tou Diov). Properly, the Jupiter, the tutelary deity of Lystra. It is unnecessary to supply temple, as Rev. The God himself was regarded as present in his temple.The gates (pulwnav). What gates are intended is uncertain. Some say, the city gates; others, the temple gates; and others, the doors of the house in which Paul and Barnabas were residing. See on ch. xii. 13.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:13 {Whose temple was before the city} (tou ontos pro tes pwlews). The god (Zeus) is identified with his temple. He had a statue and temple there. {Oxen and garlands} (taurous kai stemmata). Probably garlands to put on the oxen before they were slain. It was common to sacrifice bullocks to Jupiter and Mercury. {Would have done sacrifice} (eqelen quein). Imperfect indicative, wanted to offer sacrifice. He was planning to do it, and his purpose now became plain to Paul and Barnabas.
