Lystra
Dictionary of Bible Names

Lystra was located in the southern part of the Asia Minor province of Galatia.

The Apostle Paul evangelized Lystra during his first, second and third missionary journeys and founded its Christian church. His discourse to the people during his first journey is a testament not only to God's grace but to the witness he leaves all mankind through nature (Acts 14:15 - 17).

Pivotal events in the city!

The city is the location of two pivotal events in the ministry of Paul. The first, which occurred during his initial visit to Lystra, was being stoned and left for dead by the city's inhabitants after Jews from Antioch and Iconium stirred them up against the gospel (Acts 14:19 - 20).

The Life and Epistles of St. Paul states the following regarding the apostle's troubles in Lystra.

"And certainly no later missionaries have had more assiduous enemies than the Jews whom the Apostles had everywhere to oppose. Certain Jews from Iconium, and even from Antioch (Acts 14:19), followed in the footsteps of Paul and Barnabas, and endeavored to excite the hostility of the Lystrians against them.

"When they heard of the miracle worked on the lame man, and found how great an effect it had produced on the people of Lystra, they would be ready with a new interpretation of this occurrence. They would say that it had been accomplished, not by Divine agency, but by some diabolical magic . . ." (Life and Epistles of St. Paul, chapter 6).

The second crucial event in Paul's life, which took place near the start of his second journey, was his meeting of a young man named Timothy (Acts 16:1 - 3). A resident of the city (2Timothy 3:10 - 11) who was about thirty-three years old in early 50 A.D., he became Paul's travelling companion and trusted fellow evangelist. Some commentaries speculate that Timothy may have witnessed Paul's stoning a few years previous.

Important Verses

Acts 14:1 - 2, 5 - 7, 21 - 22
And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them (Paul and Barnabas) despitefully, and to stone them, they were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

And there they preached the gospel.

And when they had preached the gospel to that city (Derbe), and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith,

Acts 16:1 - 3
Then came he (Paul, along with Silas) to Derbe and Lystra (during his second missionary journey): and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus (Timothy), the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed: but his father was a Greek:

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him . . .

2Timothy 3:11
Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra: what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.