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Lystra

Illustration of Lystra

Lystra was a Roman colony in the region of Lycaonia in Asia Minor that Paul and Barnabas visited during the apostleโ€™s first missionary journey. While there, Paul healed a man lame from birth, prompting the local crowd to acclaim the missionaries as the gods Zeus and Hermes and prepare sacrifices in their honor, an act the two men quickly rejected by directing attention to the living God. Opponents soon arrived from nearby cities, inciting the same crowd to stone Paul and drag him outside the walls, though he survived and continued preaching. The city is further remembered as the home of Timothy, whose Jewish-Christian family became a vital link in Paulโ€™s later ministry and is mentioned in the book of Acts and the Pastoral Epistles.

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Details

Region
Asia Minor
Modern Location
Near Hatunsaray, south-central Turkey
Strongest connections in Scripture

Key Passages

Paul Heals a Lame Man

Acts 14:8-18

Paul heals a crippled man at Lystra, and the crowd tries to worship him as a god - revealing both the power of the gospel and the danger of misunderstanding.

A8nd there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his motherโ€™s womb, who never had walked:

9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13 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. 14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

Paul Stoned at Lystra

Acts 14:19-20

The same crowd that tried to worship Paul now stones him - demonstrating the volatility of popular opinion and the cost of faithful ministry.

A19nd there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Timothy from Lystra

Acts 16:1-3

Timothy, Paul's most trusted protรฉgรฉ, comes from Lystra - God raises up the next generation of leaders from the very places where the gospel first took root.

T1hen came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.