Theios aner – the divine man In the Acts of the Apostles, there are two stories pertaining to new relations between animals, gods and humans. In Lystra, Paul healed a cripple and made him walk. When people saw what he had done, they shouted that gods had come down to them in the likeness of men (Acts 14:8–11). | 12 WINGED HUMANS SPEAKING ANIMALS Theios aner - the divine man In the Acts of the Apostles there are two stories pertaining to new relations between animals gods and humans. In Lystra Paul healed a cripple and made him walk. When people saw what he had done they shouted that gods had come down to them in the likeness of men Acts 14 8 11 . They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 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 Acts 14 12-13 . However Paul and Barnabas persuaded the people not to sacrifice to them but to turn to the living God Acts 14 14-18 . In the second narrative Paul who is on his way to Rome has just suffered a shipwreck off the island of Malta. All aboard the ship saved themselves by swimming to the shore and the people of Malta helped the survivors by kindling a fire for them Acts 28 1-2 . When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks for the fire a venomous viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand 28 3 . The onlookers saw it as a sign that Paul was a murderer since having escaped from the sea he was immediately attacked by the poisonous reptile Acts 28 4 . But Paul shook the beast off into the fire and felt no harm Acts 28 5 . This made a great impression on the onlookers They waited expecting him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead but when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him they changed their minds and said that he was a god Acts 28 6 . What do these stories illustrate In both traditional religious practices relating to animals are involved and the Christian apostle Paul is regarded as divine. The first reflects the immediate connection between a religious event and the killing of a sacrificial victim and the fact that high-profile communication with the divine presupposed the ritual slaughter of an animal. In Acts 14 8-11 this routine is not criticized as such the objections .
