{They called} (ekaloun). Inchoative imperfect began to
call. {Barnabas, Jupiter} (	on Barnaban Dia). Because Barnabas
was the older and the more imposing in appearance. Paul admits
that he was not impressive in looks ( 2Co 10:10 ). {And Paul,
Mercury} (	on de Paulon Herm(886e)). Mercury (Herm(8873)) was the
messenger of the gods, and the spokesman of Zeus. Herm(8873) was of
beautiful appearance and eloquent in speech, the inventor of
speech in legend. Our word hermeneutics or science of
interpretation comes from this word ( Heb 7:2  Joh 1:38 ).
{Because he was the chief speaker} (epeid(8820)autos (886e) ho
h(8867)oumenos tou logou). Paul was clearly "the leader of the
talk." So it seemed a clear case to the natives. If preachers
always knew what people really think of them! Whether Paul was
alluding to his experience in Lystra or not in  Ga 4:14 ,
certainly they did receive him as an angel of God, as if
"Mercury" in reality.