Derbe
Where is Derbe today? An ancient town northeast of Karaman, most likely at Kerti Höyük, the farthest point of Paul's first missionary journey.
- Today
- Near Karaman (Kerti Höyük)
- Country
- Türkiye
- Status
- Ancient mound: Kerti Höyük, the leading candidate
- Identification
- Probable
Derbe is a town of Lycaonia mentioned together with Lystra (Acts 14:6). The day after Paul was stoned at Lystra he came here with Barnabas; they preached the gospel, made many disciples, and from this farthest point of the first journey turned back to strengthen the churches they had founded (Acts 14:20–22). Paul visited Derbe again on his second journey (Acts 16:1), and Gaius, one of his travelling companions, came from Derbe (Acts 20:4). The exact site is debated; the strongest candidate is Kerti Höyük near Karaman.
Read the chapters
- Acts 14
- Acts 16
The chapter where the message first reaches Europe — in Philippi, a home opened by a woman, a household coming to faith, and two prisoners who keep their hope even in jail.
- Acts 20
Related topics
Related people
- Paul
- Peter
- Barnabas
- Stephen
- Lydia
- Matthew
- Timothy
- John the Apostle
- Philip the Apostle
- Judas Iscariot
- Mark
Related verse collections
- Bible Verses About Salvation
- Bible Verses About Repentance
- Bible Verses About Generosity
- Bible Verses About Witness
Reading plans
- The Early Church Through Acts — 28 Days
- The Bible in a Year — 365 Days from Cover to Cover
- 30 Days with the Gospel — An Introduction to the New Testament
Books
Places in the Bible
Where is Derbe today?
Derbe is today in Türkiye, in Karaman Province, most likely at Kerti Höyük about 22 km north-northeast of Karaman; the identification is not certain, and nearby Devri Şehri has also been proposed. Paul and Barnabas reached it on their first journey and made many disciples (Acts 14:20–21). Kerti Höyük is a mound near the village of Ekinözü, and an inscription naming Derbe is the main basis for the identification.
Is the location of Derbe known for certain?
Not exactly. After an inscription naming the people of Derbe was found at Kerti Höyük in 1956, that mound became the strongest candidate; some scholars instead favour Devri Şehri, a few kilometres to the southeast. Both lie northeast of Karaman.