When Paul and Barnabas healed a cripple at Lystra, the people named them

When Paul and Barnabas healed a cripple at Lystra in the book of Acts in the New Testament, the people who witnessed the miracle named them Zeus and Hermes. According to the account, the people of Lystra believed that Paul and Barnabas were gods in human form and attempted to offer sacrifices to them. They called Paul "Zeus" and Barnabas "Hermes" because they believed that Paul was the chief god of their pantheon and that Barnabas was his messenger. However, Paul and Barnabas quickly corrected them, explaining that they were only human beings and that it was through the power of God that they were able to perform the healing. This incident demonstrated the cultural context in which the miracle took place and highlighted the challenge that early Christian missionaries faced in communicating their message to people of different cultures and beliefs.