3082. Lustra

Lexical Summary

Lustra: Lystra

Original Word: Λύστρα
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine; Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: Lustra
Pronunciation: LOO-strah
Phonetic Spelling: (loos'-trah)
KJV: Lystra
NASB: Lystra
Word Origin: [of uncertain origin]

1. Lystra, a place in Asia Minor

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Lystra.

Of uncertain origin; Lystra, a place in Asia Minor -- Lystra.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain origin
Definition
Lystra, a city of Lycaonia
NASB Translation
Lystra (6).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3082: Λύστρα

Λύστρα, Λυστρας, ἡ, and (in Acts 14:8; Acts 16:2; 2 Timothy 3:11) Λυστρων, τά (see Λύδδα), Lystra, a city of Lycaonia: Acts 14:6, 8, 21; Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 3:11. (Cf. references in Lightfoot on Colossians, p. 1.)

Topical Lexicon

Geographical Setting

Lystra was a Roman colony situated in the district of Lycaonia, in the south-central highlands of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Strategically positioned on the Via Sebaste—a military road built under Augustus—the town enjoyed Roman privileges yet retained a predominantly Hellenistic-Anatolian culture, evidenced by its devotion to the gods Zeus and Hermes (Acts 14:12-13). The surrounding terrain was agricultural rather than urbanized, distinguishing Lystra from the larger, more cosmopolitan Iconium to the north.

Key New Testament Events

1. First Missionary Journey (Acts 14)
• Healing of the crippled man: “In Lystra sat a man crippled in his feet, who had been lame from birth and had never walked… Paul… called out, ‘Stand up on your feet!’ At this, the man jumped up and began to walk.” (Acts 14:8-10).
• Misguided veneration: The miracle provoked a pagan response—“Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes” (Acts 14:12)—exposing Gentile spiritual ignorance.
• Paul’s corrective sermon: He appealed to natural revelation—“Yet He has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons” (Acts 14:17).
• Violent backlash: Jews from Antioch and Iconium incited a mob that stoned Paul and left him for dead outside the city (Acts 14:19).

2. Second Missionary Journey (Acts 16:1-2)
• Introduction of Timothy: “Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived… The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him”. Timothy’s mixed parentage (Jewish mother, Greek father) and good reputation anchored him as a bridge between cultures. Paul circumcised him for missional effectiveness, illustrating prudential flexibility without compromising gospel truth.

3. Pauline Reflection (2 Timothy 3:11)
• From prison Paul later recalls “persecutions, sufferings… what I endured at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra,” underscoring Lystra’s place in shaping the apostle’s and Timothy’s ministry resilience.

Missional and Theological Significance

• Validation of the Gospel among Gentiles: Lystra supplies the first recorded miracle directed entirely at an uncircumcised Gentile audience, confirming divine outreach beyond Israel.
• Confrontation with Idolatry: Paul’s sermon models contextual evangelism—beginning with creation themes rather than Old Testament citations—while still calling for repentance.
• Suffering as Credential: The stoning incident became a badge of authenticity for Paul, later appealed to when instructing young churches on perseverance (2 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Timothy 3:11).
• Emergence of Second-Generation Leadership: Timothy’s call from within Lystra demonstrates the gospel’s capacity to raise indigenous leaders who carry apostolic teaching into the next generation.

Lessons for Contemporary Discipleship

1. Expect both welcome and opposition: Miraculous confirmation and violent rejection coexist in faithful mission.
2. Contextualize without compromise: Engage prevailing worldviews, yet steer hearers from natural revelation to the risen Christ.
3. Sufferings refine servants: Hardships endured in places like Lystra forge durable faith and credibility.
4. Invest locally: Developing disciples such as Timothy ensures continuity and multiplication of gospel work.

Later History and Archaeology

Lystra never regained the prominence suggested by its early favor under Rome. The city declined after the Byzantine period, its ruins lying near modern-day Hatunsaray. Sparse archaeological remains—inscriptions mentioning Zeus and Hermes, milestones of the Via Sebaste—corroborate Luke’s narrative details, reinforcing the historical reliability of Acts.

Summary

Lystra stands as a vivid New Testament theater where the gospel penetrated paganism, produced miraculous validation, encountered violent resistance, and gave birth to enduring leadership. Its six scriptural mentions collectively testify to God’s sovereign advance of the gospel “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8), even through weakness, misunderstanding, and persecution.

Forms and Transliterations

Λυστραν Λύστραν Λυστροις Λύστροις Lustran Lustrois Lystran Lýstran Lystrois Lýstrois

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 14:6 N-AFS
GRK: τῆς Λυκαονίας Λύστραν καὶ Δέρβην
NAS: of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe,
KJV: unto Lystra and
INT: of Lycaonia Lystra and Derbe

Acts 14:8 N-DNP
GRK: ἀδύνατος ἐν Λύστροις τοῖς ποσὶν
NAS: At Lystra a man was sitting
KJV: man at Lystra, impotent in his feet,
INT: crippled in Lystra in the feet

Acts 14:21 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν Λύστραν καὶ εἰς
NAS: they returned to Lystra and to Iconium
KJV: to Lystra, and
INT: to Lystra and to

Acts 16:1 N-AFS
GRK: καὶ εἰς Λύστραν καὶ ἰδοὺ
NAS: to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple
KJV: Derbe and Lystra: and, behold,
INT: and to Lystra also behold

Acts 16:2 N-DNP
GRK: τῶν ἐν Λύστροις καὶ Ἰκονίῳ
NAS: of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium.
KJV: that were at Lystra and
INT: those in Lystra and Iconium

2 Timothy 3:11 N-DNP
GRK: Ἰκονίῳ ἐν Λύστροις οἵους διωγμοὺς
NAS: at Iconium [and] at Lystra; what
KJV: Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions
INT: Iconium in Lystra what manner of persecutions

Strong's Greek 3082
6 Occurrences

Λύστραν — 3 Occ.
Λύστροις — 3 Occ.