Acts 14:12 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

They called Barnabas, Jupiter, &c.— The heathens represented Jupiter as an old but vigorous man, of a noble and majestic aspect, and large robust make, which probably might be the form of Barnabas; whereas Mercury appeared young, lively, and active, as Paul might probably do; for he was yet but a young man. This is Chrysostome's observation: St. Luke, however, assigns another reason why the Lystrians gave the apostles these appellations. Mercury, was generally represented as the attendant on Jupiter, and was esteemed the god of eloquence. Mr. Harrington well observes, in his works, p. 330 that this persuasion might gain the more easily on the minds of Lycaonians on account of the well-known fable of Jupiter and Mercury, who are said to have descended from heaven in a human shape, and to have been entertained by Lycaon, from whom the Lycaonians received their names.