Lystra
Where is Lystra today? A mound near Hatunsaray in Meram, Konya: where Paul healed a lame man, was stoned, and later took Timothy with him.
- Today
- Near Hatunsaray, Meram, Konya
- Country
- Türkiye
- Status
- Ancient mound: north of Hatunsaray
- Identification
- Certain
Lystra is the Lycaonian town where Paul and Barnabas took refuge after fleeing Iconium on their first journey (Acts 14:6). When Paul healed a man lame from birth, the crowd took the apostles for gods, calling Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes and trying to offer sacrifices, which the apostles barely managed to stop (Acts 14:8–18). Soon afterwards a crowd stirred up by people from Antioch and Iconium stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, thinking he was dead (Acts 14:19). On his second journey Paul took with him Timothy, who most likely came from Lystra (Acts 16:1–3).
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.
- 2 Timothy 3
Related topics
Related people
- Paul
- Peter
- Barnabas
- Stephen
- Lydia
- Matthew
- Timothy
- John the Apostle
- Philip the Apostle
- Judas Iscariot
- Mark
- Luke
Related verse collections
- Bible Verses About Fear and Anxiety
- Bible Verses About Salvation
- Bible Verses About Courage
- Bible Verses About Repentance
- Bible Verses About Generosity
- Bible Verses About Faithfulness
- Bible Verses About Witness
- Bible Verses About Strength
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 Lystra today?
Lystra is today in Türkiye: a mound just north of Hatunsaray in the Meram district of Konya, about 30 km south-southwest of the city centre. The site was identified in the 19th century from a Latin inscription found there that names the city 'Lustra'. Paul healed a lame man here and was later stoned (Acts 14:8–19). Most of the ancient town still lies underground.
Why was Paul stoned at Lystra?
Some Jews from Antioch and Iconium turned the crowd against Paul; they stoned him and dragged him out of the town, thinking he was dead. But when the disciples gathered round him he got up, went back into the town and the next day left with Barnabas for Derbe (Acts 14:19–20).
Are Lystra and Kilistra the same place?
No, they are separate places. Kilistra, at Gökyurt in Konya's Meram district, is an ancient settlement known for its rock-cut buildings, and because of the similar name it is popularly linked with Lystra or with Paul's journeys. Scholars, however, identify Lystra with the mound near Hatunsaray on the basis of a Latin inscription bearing the city's name.