Derbe

Derbe was an ancient city located in the region of Lycaonia in Asia Minor, which is present-day Turkey. It holds significance in the New Testament as a site visited by the Apostle Paul during his missionary journeys. Derbe is mentioned in the Book of Acts, where it is noted as a place where Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel and made many disciples.

In Acts 14:6-7 , it is recorded that Paul and Barnabas fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe, and the surrounding region, where they continued to preach the Gospel. Derbe is highlighted as a city where Paul and Barnabas were able to minister effectively without the persecution they faced in other regions. Acts 14:20-21 states, "But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples."

Derbe is also mentioned in Acts 16:1, where it is noted that Paul returned to the city during his second missionary journey. It was in this region that Paul met Timothy, a young disciple who would become a close companion and co-worker in the ministry. Timothy's mother was a Jewish believer, and his father was a Greek, which made Timothy an ideal candidate for Paul's mission to both Jews and Gentiles.

Lystra

Lystra, like Derbe, was a city in the region of Lycaonia. It is notably mentioned in the New Testament as a place where Paul and Barnabas experienced both success and persecution. Lystra is the site of a significant event recorded in Acts 14:8-10 , where Paul healed a man who had been lame from birth. The miraculous healing led the people of Lystra to mistakenly believe that Paul and Barnabas were gods in human form, calling Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes."

The reaction of the Lystrans is detailed in Acts 14:11-13 : "When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: 'The gods have come down to us in human form!' Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds."

Paul and Barnabas vehemently rejected this adulation, insisting that they were mere men and urging the people to turn from their idolatry to the living God. Despite their efforts, the situation in Lystra quickly turned hostile. Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and incited the crowd against Paul, leading to his stoning and being dragged out of the city, presumed dead. However, as recorded in Acts 14:19-20 , Paul miraculously survived and continued his mission.

Lystra is also significant as the hometown of Timothy, who would later join Paul on his missionary journeys. Timothy's faith and dedication to the Gospel were likely influenced by the events he witnessed in Lystra, as well as the faith of his mother and grandmother, as noted in 2 Timothy 1:5 .

Both Derbe and Lystra serve as important locations in the early spread of Christianity, illustrating the challenges and triumphs faced by the apostles as they carried the message of Christ to the Gentile world.