Location
Overview
Lystra was a small Roman colony in Lycaonia, the scene of one of the most dramatic episodes of Paul's first journey and the home of his future companion Timothy.
"The gods are come down"
Paul healed a man "impotent in his feet... who never had walked." The crowd cried out in Lycaonian, "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men," calling Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius, and the priest of Jupiter prepared to sacrifice — until the apostles tore their clothes and stopped them (Acts 14:8–18).
Paul stoned
Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium turned the crowd; "they stoned Paul, and drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead." But he rose up and went on (Acts 14:19–20).
The home of Timothy
At Lystra Paul later met Timothy, "well reported of by the brethren," whom he took as his companion (Acts 16:1–3).
Events Here
Paul heals a lame man, is hailed as a god, then stoned at Lystra
Scripture References
6 versesActs5 verses
Acts 14:6
They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
Acts 14:8
And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
Acts 14:21
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, had taught many: Gr. had made many disciples
Acts 16:1
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
Acts 16:2
Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
2 Timothy1 verse
2 Timothy 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.
Archaeology & History
Lystra lay near modern Hatunsaray, south of Iconium; an inscription found there confirms its identity as the Roman colony. The episode of the apostles mistaken for Jupiter and Mercury reflects the local Lycaonian religion and the famous legend of those gods visiting the region in disguise.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Lystra
Where is Lystra today?
Today, Lystra corresponds to Near Hatunsaray, Turkey.
What happened at Lystra in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Lystra include paul heals a lame man, is hailed as a god, then stoned at lystra.
Where is Lystra first mentioned in the Bible?
Lystra is first mentioned in Acts 14:6.
How often is Lystra mentioned in the Bible?
Lystra is mentioned in 6 verses across 2 books: Acts, 2 Timothy.
What happened at Lystra?
Paul healed a man lame from birth; the crowd hailed Paul and Barnabas as the gods Mercury and Jupiter, but soon, stirred up by opponents, stoned Paul and left him for dead — yet he survived.
Who was from Lystra?
Timothy, Paul’s close companion and the recipient of two of his letters, came from Lystra.