4 Bible Verses about Pagan Gods
Most Relevant Verses
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercury, for he was the chief speaker.
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, when he saw the city full of idols. Accordingly, he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and devout persons, and in the market daily, with those who chanced to meet him. And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers disputed with him; and some said: What can this babbler possibly wish to say? Others said: He seems to be a proclaimer of strange demons: for he preached to them Jesus and the Resurrection.read more.
And they took him, and brought him to Mars hill, saying: Are we able to understand what this new teaching is, which is announced by you? For you bring some strange things to our ears: we wish to understand then what these things mean. For all the Athenians and resident strangers have leisure for nothing else than to tell or to hear some new thing. Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said: Men of Athens, I perceive that in all respects your reverence for demons excels that of other men. For as I was passing through, and looking attentively at the objects of your worship, I dis covered also an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him I make known to you.
And at that time there was no little excitement about that way. For a certain man, named Demetrius, a silversmith, by making silver shrines for Diana, furnished no little trade to the artists. These he called together, with the workmen em ployed about such things, and said: Men, you know that our wealth arises from this trade:read more.
and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost the whole of Asia, this Paul, by his persuasions, has drawn away a great multitude, saying, that they which are made with hands are not gods. Now there is danger, not only that this our calling will come into disgrace, but that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be despised, and that the majesty of her whom all Asia and the world worships, will be destroyed. When they heard this, they were full of anger, and cried out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians! And the whole city was filled with confusion. And they seized Gains and Aristarchus, who were Macedonians, Paul's fellow-travelers, and, with one consent, rushed into the theater. And when Paul wished to go in among the people, the disciples did not permit him. Some of the Asiarchs also, who were friendly to him, sent to him, and besought him not to trust himself into the theater. Some, therefore, were crying one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what they had come together. And some of the multitude put Alexander forward, the Jews urging him on. And Alexander waved his hand, and wished to make a defense to the people. But perceiving that he was a Jew, they all cried out, with one voice, for about two hours: Great is Diana of the Ephesians. But the town-clerk quieted the multitude, and said: Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great Diana, and of the image that fell down from Jupiter? As these things, then, can not be contradicted, you ought to be quiet, and do nothing rashly. For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples, nor revilers of your goddess.
