12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.



Ver. 12. He was the chief speaker] Gr. çãïõìåíïò ôïõ ëïãïõ , a master of speech. Paul was another Pericles, who thundered and lightened in his orations; {a} another Phocion, who was åéðåéí äåéíïôáôïò , saith Plutarch, a most powerful speaker; another Cyneas, who conquered more cities by his eloquence than his master Pyrrhus did by his puissance. In Rogers and Bradford, martyrs, it was hard to say whether there were more force of eloquence and utterance in preaching (saith Mr Fox) or more holiness of life and conversation. Paul was eminent in both.



{a} Intonabat, fulgurabat, totam Graeciam permiscebat. Cic.