Lystra Acts 14:6-21;16:1-2, II Tim. 3:11
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. Pauls 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.
Biblical Sites in Turkey List