“The City of Lystra” from the lesson series Grab Your Passport, April 2021
our Scripture
Paul also came to Derbe and to Lystra.
| Acts 16:1-5 ESV | |||
| Acts 16:1-5 NASB | Acts 16:1-5 NIV | Acts 16:1-5 NLT | Acts 16:1-5 MESSAGE |
Other Scriptural References:
Acts 14:6-18
2 Timothy 3:10-11
Lystra was a mildly important city in the first century, though it was somewhat of a rustic, market town. Lystra is the city’s ancient Greek name. Today it is the village called Kilistra, also called Zoldera. It was located in a relatively backward region of Lycaonia, located today in south-central Turkey. In New Testament times, it was bordered on the west by Phrygia, on the north by Galatia, toward the east by Cappadocia and by Taurus on the south. The most important city in the area, both then and now, was the city of Iconium (which is Konya today).
Lystra was founded in 26BC by Augustus to be a colony for his retired army veterans. In Paul’s day, the colony had such Italian roots they used and spoke Latin rather than Greek. Some of the Italian cults became celebrated along with those of native gods and goddesses.
Lystra is located on a road that the Apostle Paul had no doubt traveled many times, even as a youth. The path stretched from Ephesus to Sardis to Antioch of Psidia to Iconium and Lystra, to Derbe, through the Cilician Gates, to Tarsus (Paul’s hometown), to Antioch in Syria where the road divided to go east or south.
Paul’s Journeys
The second missionary journey is underway, and each of Paul’s recorded journeys is longer than the one before. His first trip was about 1580 miles long. This journey will be about 3000 miles. The final and longest journey travels about 3300 miles.
In the first journey, Paul leaves Antioch in Syria by boat, but this time he travels on foot. Traveling on foot, Paul would have first come to Tarsus then to Derbe before making his way to Lystra. Luke does not mention a synagogue in Lystra, which probably means there were less than ten Jewish families in the city. There would have been a temple to Zeus in the city, probably near the city’s gates. A statue of Hermes (Mercury) has been found in excavations there. Greek mythological stories have Hermes visiting the city.
Interestingly, on the first journey, Paul healed a lame man in the city. The people believed that the gods had come down to visit them, calling Barnabas “Zeus” and calling Paul “Hermes” because he was the chief speaker (Acts 14:8-18).
Paul Develops Leaders in Lystra
The characters traveling with Paul changes on the second journey. Barnabas has taken John Mark and chooses to set sail toward the island of Cyprus. The paths of Barnabas and Paul do not cross again in the book of Acts. Barnabas may well have either stayed on Cyprus or continued south. evidence shows a strong Christian presence and tradition in Alexandria, Egypt.
Silas
Instead Paul chooses to take Silas, who is also known as Silvanus. Silas first appears as one of the leaders in Jerusalem during the time of the council concerning the admission of Gentiles into the church (Acts 15:22). His name indicates he was a Hellenistic Jew and probably comes from a stem meaning “wood.” He appears to have been a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37). After the council in Jerusalem, Silas was one of the leaders who accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to share the letter and their encouragement (Acts 15:22-32).
He was a good choice for Paul to take on the second journey because they were first heading into the hot-bed of Judaizers through the Galatian region. Silas would have been able to verify Paul’s leadership and message to the Jews in the area. Therefore his presence may have kept the persecution and turmoil to its minimum.
Timothy
It is at Lystra that Paul adds Timothy to his companions for the journey. Paul certainly served as a mentor to both Silas and Timothy, but the relationship with Timothy appears to be even deeper. Paul speaks of their connection as that to a father and son (1 Timothy 1:2). The chances are strong that Paul helped lead Timothy to Christ on his first journey (Acts 14:6), but in the absence of any allusion to Timothy’s father in the New Testament (both his mother and grandmother are mentioned by name – 2 Timothy 1:5), Paul may have stepped into that significant role as the young man matured.
Timothy was often left behind or sent ahead on the journey to help strengthen new believers or pave the way for the coming evangelistic message. Tradition has Timothy playing a significant role at the church in Ephesus. Timothy became one of Paul’s constant companions up until the point of the Apostle’s death.
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