Derbe (Ekinozu)

Southeast of Lystra some thirty miles distance was the small town of Derbe . In the Lycaonian District, this town was at the extreme edge of cities considered Galatian.

The town was small, but the work of St. Paul and St. Barnabas yielded a number of followers. Among them, Gaius was converted and much later joined St. Paul’s team on the third journey (cp. Acts 20:4).

Following the strengthening that no doubt resulted from the encouragement of the growth in the movement at Derbe , St. Paul and St. Barnabas journeyed back to Lystra and Iconium (45 miles northwest), in spite of their prior reception (Acts 14:21-22) and strengthened the small flock of believers in each place. St. Paul and Silas made their way to Derbe on the Second Journey (Acts 16:1).

Attempts to locate the exact site of the ancient village have been attempted by M. Balance in 1956 and 1964. His identification favors a small outcropping four kilometers south east of Kerti Huyuk.