Lystra

Lystra by Jane Gribbon

In contrast to the larger and more prominent cities of the mission journeys of St. Paul, Lystra was a much smaller city. After the unwanted attention of the mobs of Iconium, St. Paul was perhaps looking for a safe haven in this young Roman colony, established in only 6 BCE.

Though a Gentile and largely Latin speaking colony, the dialect was beyond the comprehension of St. Paul and St. Barnabas (Acts 14:11). Some scholars suggest that the team stayed in the home of Timothy during the visit on this journey (cp. Acts. 16:1).

When a cripple was healed and began to walk the crowd at Lystra began to venerate the Apostle and his companion, believing them to be gods in human form. After numerous attempts to persuade them otherwise, St. Paul eventually found a forum to preach to them. During the time of St. Paul’s visit, some of the Jewish community of Antioch and Iconium began to stir the town against St. Paul.

Eventually, the tide of public opinion turned, and they stoned St. Paul, leaving him for dead outside the city. The following day, St. Paul arose from the stoning and went southeast on to Derbe.