The mission to Lystra - JSS3 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note
After completing their assignment in Paphos, another place the comfort of their familiar surroundings. In Perga, John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. From Perga, Paul and Barnabas proceeded to Antioch in Pisidia where Paul addressed the people in the synagogue. However before this work was accomplished he was persecuted. Consequently he had to move to another city called Iconium. Here, the Jews instigated the people to molest Paul and Barnabas. Fearing that they faced imminent danger of being killed if they continued in Iconium, they fled to Lystra and Derbe situated south of Iconium.
Lystra and Derbe were cities in the district of Lyconia, and part of the Galatian region. There is no mention whatsoever of a synagogue at Lystra. It is possible that there was a remarkably low colony and clusters of Jews in that region of Asia Minor. The mission work in Lystra was therefore limited to those who practised their traditional religion. It began with Paul healing a cripple who had looked upon them for healing. Paul asked him to walk and he did. When the people saw the miracle they spoke in their native Lycaonian language saying, ‘The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.’ (verse 11).
They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. They did not only give them these names chosen from among their many deities, but they went further to arrange to worship the missionaries with a sacrifice! The Bible says, ‘And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the people.’ (verse 13)
As soon as Paul and Barnabas heard of the preparations being made to worship them instead of the most high God in heaven, they rushed to the people and stopped them. They reminded them that the idols which they were worshipping were vain things. The missionaries told them that their primary aim of coming to them was that they should turn from these vain things to the living God who made the heavens and the earth and the seas and all that is in them (verse 15). They were also told God had always left Himself with witnesses who would proclaim His true nature. In this way, the missionaries were able to prevent the people from worshipping them. The disappointment of the people made it possible for the Jews from Antioch in Pisidia and Iconium to poison their minds against the missionaries. Consequently, Paul was stoned and dragged out of the city where he was left as dead. However, he later woke up and left the city with Barnabas for Derbe. At Derbe, they preached and converted many people. They went back to their base from where they went back to Lystra and from there to Iconium and Antioch. They had also passed through Pisidia, and on to Pamphylia, Perga and Attalia on their way home, stopping over at each post to give messages and words of encouragement to converts to remain focused and steadfast in the Christian faith. When they eventually went home to Antioch they gathered members of the church together and gave a good account of their experiences and the wonderful things God used them to do as His instruments and how the door of the Christian faith had been opened to the Gentiles, marking a significant achievement in the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ.