LYSTRA (Ailarpa), a city of Lycacnia, in Asia Minor, mentioned in connection with Derbe. When Paul and Barnabas were persecuted at Iconium they fled unto Lystra and Derbe, and unto the region that lieth round about ' (Acts xiv. 6). These two towns must have been close to each other. The site of Iconium is known [Ico mum], and the boundaries of Lycaonia are also known [LvcAomAJ. Lystra and Derbe stood on the great road leading from Cilicia to Iconium, and consequently south of the latter, and on the northern side of the Taurus range which separated Cilicia from Lycaonia. Derbe lay next Cilicia, for when Paul was on his way from Cilicia he reached Derbe first (Acts xvi. ; and when re turning at another time from Derbe to Iconium he passed through Lystra (xiv. 21). The relative situation of the two is thus clear. Lystra is men tioned by Strabo and Ptolemy, but its position is not defined. Leake suggests that it stood at the western extremity of the plain of Lycaonia, about twenty miles south of lconium. That site, how ever, is far removed from the public road, and it is uncertain whether there be ruins there (Travels, p. 103). South-east from Iconium, near the centre of the plain, stands a lofty isolated mountain called Kara-dagh, and on its eastern declivity are exten sive ruins. To these the name Bin-Lir-It'ilissi (the 'Thousand-and-one Churches') is now given on account of the great number of ecclesiastical edifices among them. Here Mr. Hamilton would locate Lystra, and the identity inay be admitted. Another traveller ascended the mountain, and says, On looking down I perceived churches on all sides of the mountain scattered about in various positions Including those on the plain, there are about two dozen in tolerable preservation, and the remains of perhaps forty may be traced altogether ' (Falkner, in Conybeare and Howson's Life of St. Paul, i. 202). Some ruins a few miles
eastward, on the line of the ancient road, are sup posed to mark the site of Derbe.
At Lystra, Paul, having miraculously cured a cripple, was about to receive divine honours along with Barnabas. Afterwards, however, at the in stigation of Jews from Iconium, he was stoned and left for dead (Acts xiv. 8-19). The healing power which he had been able to exert for the relief of others, was now put forth by God on his own behalf, and he suddenly rose up, went into the city, and next day visited Derbe. From thence he returned again to Lystra on his way to Iconium (vers. 20, 21). Timothy appears to have been a native of Lystra. He was perhaps converted during Paul's first visit, and on his second visit he took him with him on his missionary tour (xvi. 1-4). From this fact we can understand the pointed reference of Paul in 2 Tim. iii. to, 1, But thou hast fully known (rapnaoXotinKas) my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suf fering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, al Lystra ; what persecutions I endured : but out of them all the Lord delivered me.' Timothy had apparently been an eye-witness both of the miracle performed by, and that performed on, Paul at Lystra (Alford and Ellicott, ad loc.)--J. L. P.