Notwithstanding the positive denial of the apostles that they were divine, and notwithstanding Paul's endeavors to direct the minds of the people to the true God as the only object worthy of adoration, it was almost impossible to turn the heathen from their intention to offer sacrifice. So firm had been their belief that these men were indeed gods, and so great their enthusiasm, that they were loath to acknowledge their error. The record says that they were "scarce restrained."

Trods apostlenes afgjorte benægtelse af at være guder og trods Paulus bestræbelser for at rette folkets tanker mod den sande Gud som den eneste, der er værdig til at tilbedes, var det næsten umuligt at få hedningerne fra deres forsæt om at ofre til dem. Deres tro på, at disse mænd i sandhed var guder, havde været så fast, og deres begejstring så stor, at de kun modstræbende ville indrømme deres fejltagelse. Beretningen siger, at "det var med nød og næppe!"