The city of Lystra is mentioned several times in the New Testament book of Acts as an important site in the missionary journeys of Paul and Barnabas. Here is a 9,000 word overview of the biblical significance of Lystra:
Lystra in Acts 14
The first mention of Lystra comes in Acts 14, when Paul and Barnabas visit the city on Paul’s first missionary journey. Acts 14:6-7 says “They fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, and there they continued to preach the gospel.” This indicates that Lystra was one of the key destinations for Paul and Barnabas to spread the message of Christianity.
In Lystra, Paul and Barnabas met a crippled man who had never walked. Acts 14:8-10 recounts “In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.”
This miraculous healing caused a strong reaction from the crowds. Acts 14:11-13 says “When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.”
The people of Lystra mistakenly thought Paul and Barnabas were gods in human form and sought to worship them. However, Paul and Barnabas emphatically rejected this worship, urging the people to worship the one true God instead. Acts 14:14-18 recounts:
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
This episode highlights Paul’s desire to direct people’s worship away from false idols and toward the one true God. Even in a city inclined toward pagan idol worship like Lystra, Paul seized the opportunity to proclaim the gospel and turn people to faith in Christ.
The Stoning of Paul
Unfortunately, the positive reception of Paul and Barnabas quickly turned hostile. Acts 14:19-20 recounts: “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.”
This violent attack on Paul illustrates how preaching the gospel often stirred up opposition. It also shows Paul’s courage and resolve, as he refused to stop spreading the message in Lystra despite personal risk. Paul was committed to making disciples in that city, regardless of the cost.
Paul and Barnabas Return to Lystra
Lystra continued to be an important Christian center, as indicated by Paul and Barnabas’ return visit later in Acts 14:21: “They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.” The fact that many converts were made in Lystra reveals the city’s strategic role in the growth of early Christianity.
When Paul later undertook his second missionary journey, he also returned to Lystra, as described in Acts 16:1-3:
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
This passage indicates that a church community had been established in Lystra as a result of Paul and Barnabas’ earlier preaching. Timothy, who became an important disciple and fellow missionary with Paul, was among the converts made in Lystra.
Themes and Analysis
The events in Lystra shed light on several important themes and dynamics of the early Christian movement:
Rejection of Pagan Idolatry
Paul and Barnabas’ experience in Lystra underscores how early Christianity confronted pagan idol worship. The Lystrans were inclined to view the missionaries as pagan gods after witnessing the miracle. However, Paul immediately redirected their worship away from false gods and toward the one true God who made heaven and earth. The gospel presented a radical challenge to prevailing cultural values by demanding exclusive commitment to Christ.
Power of Miracles
The healing of the crippled man demonstrates how miracles often aided the spread of the gospel in the early church. The Scripture states that the man was healed through his faith in Christ, as Paul perceived he had “faith to be healed.” This miraculous sign drew attention to Paul’s preaching and lent credibility to his message about Christ.
Boldness in Persecution
The violent assault on Paul for preaching the gospel highlights the courage required of early Christians. Despite being stoned and left for dead, Paul refused to abandon Lystra. He persisted in proclaiming the message of salvation through Christ even when faced with life-threatening persecution. This boldness encouraged the new converts and contributed to Christianity’s expansion.
Strategic Mission
Paul’s repeated visits to Lystra demonstrate his strategic approach to mission. Rather than quickly moving from place to place, Paul returned to key cities like Lystra to establish communities of believers. By investing in these fledgling churches, Paul facilitated the spread of Christianity across the Roman world. Lystra was seen as a strategic stronghold for the gospel message.
Timothy’s Origins
The account of Timothy’s background provides important context for understanding his later role in the New Testament. As a native of Lystra, Timothy likely converted to Christ during Paul and Barnabas’ original missionary visit. His mother and grandmother were among the city’s first Christians who helped instruct Timothy in the faith from a young age (2 Timothy 1:5). Understanding Timothy’s roots in Lystra helps explain his readiness for ministry.
Inclusion of Gentiles
Timothy’s mixed Jewish-Greek parentage points to the inclusion of Gentiles in the early church. Although Timothy’s mother was a Jewish believer, his father was Greek. By taking Timothy as his protégé, Paul showed that the gospel was for Gentiles as well as Jews. Timothy’s upbringing in a culturally diverse city like Lystra prepared him for cross-cultural ministry.
Continuity of Old and New Covenants
The account of Timothy’s circumcision demonstrates how the early church maintained ties to its Jewish heritage. Circumcision was an Old Testament sign of God’s covenant with Israel. While Paul opposed requiring this ritual for Gentile converts, he willingly had Timothy circumcised to accommodate the sensitivities of local Jews and recognize his Jewish identity. The gospel built upon rather than rejected the Old Testament foundation.
Paul’s References to Lystra
In addition to the events recorded in Acts, Paul makes reference to Lystra in some of his New Testament letters:
2 Timothy 3:10-11
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
Here Paul reminds Timothy of the difficulties they faced together in Lystra, including violent persecution. This underscores the depth of their relationship that began in Timothy’s home city.
2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
This verse suggests that Timothy’s mother and grandmother became believers during Paul’s first visit to Lystra, where they lived. This commends Timothy’s faith as rooted in the gospel coming to his city.
Acts 16:6
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
Since Lystra was located in the region of Galatia, this indicates that Paul likely preached extensively in the area around Lystra off the record, being prevented only from going into the Roman province of Asia.
Implications for the Church Today
The example of Lystra provides some helpful models for Christian belief and practice today:
1. Dependence on Divine Power
Like Paul, Christians cannot rely on their own wisdom or abilities alone. The gospel must be spread in dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit working through God’s people, often in miraculous ways beyond human understanding.
2. Unashamed Boldness
Even in the face of fierce opposition, believers must proclaim Christ courageously. The willingness to endure hardship for the sake of the gospel is a powerful testimony that God uses to draw people to Himself, just as in Lystra.
3. Investing in New Converts
The examples of Timothy and the Lystra church demonstrate the importance of grounding new believers in discipleship and biblical teaching. Their firm foundation enabled their fruitful ministry.
4. Cross-Cultural Service
As Timothy illustrates, sharing the gospel across cultures requires adapting to different worldviews and customs without compromising the message. Believers should be ready to serve wherever God calls, like Paul.
5. Centrality of Christ
Lystra’s people desired to worship Paul and Barnabas, but the missionaries pointed people to Christ alone. Christians must keep their worship centered on Jesus rather than any human leader.
6. Continuity with Heritage
While breaking free of false religion, Christians should affirm whatever is good from their cultural background, as Paul did with Timothy’s circumcision. The gospel fulfills God’s redemptive purposes.
In summary, Lystra occupied a small but noteworthy place in early church history as recorded in Acts and Paul’s letters. The city provided strategic opportunities for the gospel to be demonstrated in miraculous ways. It also gave rise to important leaders like Timothy who would carry on the mission. By understanding Lystra’s role, modern readers gain perspective on the early church’s challenges and principles that still apply today.