King James Bible
"Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people."
The temple of Zeus (Jupiter in Roman terminology) stood outside Lystra's gates, reflecting the city's deep pagan devotion. This priest served the chief deity of the Greco-Roman pantheon, whose temple location "before the city" indicates its prominence in local religious life. Oxen were the most prestigious sacrificial animals in pagan worship, while garlands (wreaths of flowers or leaves) adorned both the animals and participants in religious processions. The priest brings these to the city gates where Paul and Barnabas likely lodged, transforming the entrance into an impromptu altar. The entire population joins the priest in preparing to offer divine honors to the apostles, whom they mistook for gods after witnessing a healing miracle. This corporate response reveals how quickly miracle-working could be misinterpreted through pagan religious frameworks in the ancient world.