Don’t I Know You?

Learn to reject the religious resemblance in this world by coming to a greater understanding of God’s revelation.

1. Radical Rejection (2,4-6,14-15a,18-20)

John 3:1–2 “1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.””

Acts 3:2 “2 A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple.”

Rejection of the Gospel

Rejection of the false worship

Matthew 26:65 “65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? See, now you’ve heard the blasphemy.”

2. Religious Resemblance (11-13)

In Acts 14:8–18, Paul and Barnabas are in Lystra, a Roman colony in modern-day Turkey, during their first missionary journey. Paul heals a man crippled from birth, a miracle that astonishes the local crowd. The Lystrans, speaking in their native Lycaonian language, interpret this act through their cultural and religious lens, concluding that Paul and Barnabas are gods in human form. They identify Barnabas as Zeus, the chief god in the Greek pantheon, and Paul as Hermes, the messenger god, because Paul is the primary speaker. This reaction likely stems from a local legend, preserved in Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*, about Zeus and Hermes visiting the region in disguise to test human hospitality. The Lystrans, aware of this story, are eager not to repeat the mistake of their ancestors, who failed to show hospitality and were punished. The crowd’s attempt to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas reflects their desire to honor these perceived deities, but the apostles vehemently reject this worship, emphasizing that they are mere humans preaching the gospel of the one true God.

The passage highlights the cultural divide between the Jewish-Christian message of Paul and Barnabas and the pagan worldview of the Lystrans.

The Myth of Philemon and Baucis: Detailed Description

The story of Philemon and Baucis, found primarily in Ovid’s *Metamorphoses* (Book VIII, lines 620–724), is a Greek myth set in Phrygia, a region near Lystra in modern-day Turkey. It emphasizes the virtues of hospitality (*xenia*), humility, and love, and it likely influenced the Lystrans’ reaction in Acts 14:11-12. Here’s a detailed retelling based on the sources:

**The Story**:

Zeus, the king of the gods, and Hermes, his messenger, hear rumors that the people of Phrygia have abandoned the sacred custom of hospitality. To test this, they disguise themselves as weary, dust-covered travelers and visit a village in the region during a storm. They knock on numerous doors, seeking food and shelter, but are repeatedly turned away by wealthy households who offer nothing but insults. Finally, they arrive at the humble cottage of Philemon and Baucis, an elderly, impoverished couple who have lived together in love and contentment for many years.

Despite their poverty, Philemon and Baucis welcome the strangers warmly. Their home is simple, with a straw-thatched roof and mismatched furnishings, but it radiates warmth and generosity. They invite the disguised gods to rest by their hearth, adding precious firewood to warm them. Baucis prepares a modest meal of olives, eggs, radishes, cabbage, smoked pork, and sour wine diluted to stretch further. To make their guests comfortable, they prop up a wobbly table with a broken dish and cover a bench with a soft cloth. The couple keeps the conversation lively to distract from the meager fare, embodying the spirit of *xenia*, the Greek code of hospitality that treats guests as sacred, potentially divine, visitors.[]

During the meal, Baucis notices a miracle: the wine jug, despite being refilled multiple times, never runs dry, and the wine improves in quality. Realizing their guests are no ordinary travelers, Philemon and Baucis suspect they are gods. Ashamed of their simple offerings, they attempt to slaughter their only goose, a valued guardian of their home, to provide a more fitting meal. The goose, however, flees to Zeus’s lap, and the gods intervene, revealing their true identities. They commend the couple for their kindness, contrasting it with the inhospitality of their neighbors.

Zeus and Hermes instruct Philemon and Baucis to follow them to a nearby mountain, warning them not to look back. From the summit, the couple witnesses a devastating flood engulfing the valley, destroying the village and its inhospitable inhabitants. Their own cottage, however, is spared and transformed into a magnificent temple. The gods offer the couple a wish as a reward for their virtue. After conferring, Philemon and Baucis request two things: to serve as priests and priestesses of the temple and to die at the same moment so they may never be separated. Zeus grants their wishes.

Years later, as they grow old serving the temple, Philemon and Baucis notice leaves and bark forming on each other’s bodies. In their final moments, they exchange loving farewells and are transformed into intertwining trees—an oak (symbolizing strength and associated with Zeus) and a linden (symbolizing love and fertility). Their branches entwine, ensuring they remain together forever. The trees become a site of reverence, with visitors hanging wreaths on their branches to honor the couple’s hospitality and devotion.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baucis_and_Philemon)[](https://spellbinders.org/baucis-and-philemon-an-ancient-love-story/)[](https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/baucis-and-philemon)

Cultural and Moral Significance

The myth underscores the importance of *xenia*, a sacred obligation in Greek culture to offer hospitality to strangers, who might be gods in disguise.

Ovid’s *Metamorphoses* (8 CE) is the primary source, but the story has inspired later works,

Different Names of Zeus and Hermes

In Greco-Roman mythology, gods were often known by multiple names depending on the culture, region, or context. Below are the primary alternate names for Zeus and Hermes:

- **Greek**: Zeus (Ζεύς), the king of the gods, god of the sky, thunder, and justice.

- **Roman**: Jupiter or Jove, the equivalent deity in Roman mythology, often associated with the same attributes.

- **Greek**: Hermes (Ἑρμῆς), the messenger of the gods, god of trade, travel, eloquence, and trickery.

- **Roman**: Mercury, the Roman counterpart, sharing Hermes’ roles as messenger and patron of commerce and travelers.

Zeus and Hermes

St. Anthony of Padua

: Lost items, lost souls, the poor, travelers.Patronage

: Finding lost objects, spiritual guidance, and aid for the needy.Prayed for

St. Jude Thaddeus

: Desperate situations, hopeless causes, miracles.Patronage

: Help in impossible or dire circumstances, such as grave illness or deep despair.Prayed for

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

: Catholic schools, widows, educators.Patronage

: Success in education, support for widows, and spiritual growth.Prayed for

St. Michael the Archangel

: Protection, police, military, dangerous vocations.Patronage

St. Francis of Assisi

: Animals, ecologists, peace, the poor.Patronage

: Protection of animals, environmental concerns, and peace in conflicts.Prayed for

Superficial Differences

Definition: Superficial differences are surface-level, minor, or cosmetic changes that do not affect the core meaning, function, or essence of something. These differences are often external, easily noticeable, but lack deep impact or significance.

Substantive Differences

Definition: Substantive differences are significant, fundamental changes that affect the core meaning, purpose, structure, or outcome of something. These differences have deeper implications and often alter the essence or impact of the subject.

Learn to reject the religious resemblance in this world by coming to a greater understanding of God’s revelation.

3. Real Revelation (15b-17)

Exodus 20:11 “11 For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.”

Psalm 146:6 “6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever,”

Psalm 147:8 “8 who covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, and causes grass to grow on the hills.”

General Revelation

Psalm 19:1–4 “1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. 3 There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. 4 Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.”

Romans 1:19–20 “19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.”

Romans 2:14–15 “14 So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them”

Special Revelation

Hebrews 1:1–2 “1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.”

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Exodus 3:13–14 “13 Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?” 14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.””

Learn to reject the religious resemblance in this world by coming to a greater understanding of God’s revelation.

2 Timothy 3:11 “11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all.”

2 Corinthians 11:25–29 “25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. 26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. 28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?”

Learn to reject the religious resemblance in this world by coming to a greater understanding of God’s revelation.