Jupiter

The principal deity of the ancient Greeks and Romans. He was worshipped by them under various epithets. Barnabas was identified with this god by the Lycaonians (Acts 14:12), because he was of stately and commanding presence, as they supposed Jupiter to be. There was a temple dedicated to this god outside the gates of Lystra (14:13).

(a father that helps), the Greek Zeus. The Olympian Zeus was the national god of the Hellenic race, as well as the supreme ruler of the heathen world, and as such formed the true opposite to Jehovah. Jupiter or Zeus is mentioned in two passages of the New Testament, on the occasion of St. Paul’s visit to Lystra, (Acts 14:12,13) where the expression “Jupiter, which was before their city,” means that his temple was outside the city. Also in (Acts 19:35)

JU'PITER, the highest and mightiest of the Olympian gods, reputed as the powerful ruler of the world, the father of gods and men, is twice mentioned in the N.T. The incident at Lystra, Acts 14:12. When the Lystrians saw the impotent man instantly healed, they were disposed to regard the apostles as gods in the likeness of men; and as there was a tradition among them that their province was once visited by Jupiter and Mercury, they were inclined to regard this as a repetition of the favor. Acts 14:12. So they called Barnabas "Jupiter," and Paul, who was the chief speaker, "Mercury," the god of eloquence. The priest of Jupiter, the tutelar deity of the city, whose image or temple was before the gates, brought the usual sacrifices decked out for the altar, and would have joined the people in the religious worship of the apostles had they not been persuaded to desist by their solemn warnings. The image of Diana at Ephesus was said to have fallen from Jupiter, Acts 19:35. See Diana.

the father that helpeth

JU'PITER, the highest and mightiest of the Olympian gods, reputed as the powerful ruler of the world, the father of gods and men, is twice mentioned in the N.T. The incident at Lystra, Acts 14:12. When the Lystrians saw the impotent man instantly healed, they were disposed to regard the apostles as gods in the likeness of men; and as there was a tradition among them that their province was once visited by Jupiter and Mercury, they were inclined to regard this as a repetition of the favor. Acts 14:12. So they called Barnabas "Jupiter," and Paul, who was the chief speaker, "Mercury," the god of eloquence. The priest of Jupiter, the tutelar deity of the city, whose image or temple was before the gates, brought the usual sacrifices decked out for the altar, and would have joined the people in the religious worship of the apostles had they not been persuaded to desist by their solemn warnings. The image of Diana at Ephesus was said to have fallen from Jupiter, Acts 19:35. See Diana.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The supreme deity, king of gods and men, and reputed to be the son of Saturn and Rhea; Jove. He corresponds to the Greek Zeus.

2. One of the planets, being the brightest except Venus, and the largest of them all, its mean diameter being about 85,000 miles. It revolves about the sun in 4,332.6 days, at a mean distance of 5.2028 from the sun, the earth's mean distance being taken as unity. Jupiter's beard. (Bot.) (a) A South European herb, with cymes of small red blossoms (Centranthus ruber). (b) The houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum); -- so called from its massive inflorescence, like the sculptured beard of Jove. Prior. (c) the cloverlike Anthyllis Barba-Jovis. -- Jupiter's staff (Bot.), the common mullein; -- so called from its long, rigid spike of yellow blossoms.