4 Bible Verses about Pagan Gods

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because 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. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout [Greeks], and in the market daily with those that met him. And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, What doth this babbler mean to say? and others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of foreign gods; because he brought the glad tidings of Jesus and the resurrection.read more.
And they took him and brought him to Mars hill, saying, May we know what this new doctrine is, of which thou speakest? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears. We would know therefore what these things mean. Now all the Athenians, and the strangers residing among them, spent their leisure for nothing else but to tell or to hear something new. Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, Men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are very devout. For while passing along and observing your objects of worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, "To an unknown God." What therefore ye, without knowledge of it, worship, that do I make known to you.

And about that time there arose no small tumult concerning the faith. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, made silver shrines of Diana, and brought no small gain to the craftsmen. And having called them together, with the workmen of like occupation, he said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth;read more.
and ye see and hear, that this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, not only of Ephesus, but of almost all Asia, saying, that those are not gods, which are made with hands. And there is not only danger that this branch of our business will come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be despised, and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship. And hearing this they became full of wrath, and kept crying out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians! And the city was filled with confusion; and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Pauls companions in travel. And when Paul wished to go in to the people, the disciples would not suffer him. And some also of the Asiarchs, who were his friends, sent to him, and entreated him not to venture into the theatre. Some therefore were crying one thing, and some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and the greater part knew not wherefore they had come together. And they brought forward Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward; and Alexander beckoned with his hand, desiring to make his defence to the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice for about two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians! But when the Recorder had quieted the multitude, he said, Men of Ephesus, who is there among men that doth not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the great Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Since then these things cannot be denied, ye ought to be quiet, and do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of temples, nor blasphemers of your goddess.

Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.