Lystra
LocationsGeographical Setting
Lystra was an ancient city in the Roman province of Galatia, located in south-central Anatolia.
What is the meaning of Lystra in the Bible?
Lystra was a Roman colony in the province of Galatia, situated approximately 18 miles south-southwest of Iconium (modern Konya) near the site of modern Hatunsaray. It served as a strategic military and administrative center rather than a hub of education, and it is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles as a location visited by the Apostle Paul during his missionary journeys.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Lystra as a Roman colony with a population of veterans and local inhabitants clarifies the social dynamics in Acts 14, where Paul and Barnabas are initially mistaken for gods and later stoned, illustrating the cultural tensions between early Christian missionaries and the polytheistic environment of the Roman East.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Lystra in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Lystra clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.