Acts 14:8

ὑπάρχων omitted with אABCDE. Unrepresented in Vulg.

8. ἐν Λύστροις, at Lystra. This place lay almost south from Iconium, if the site generally assigned to it, at the foot of the Karadagh, be the correct one. See Dict. of the Bible. It is most probable that this was the home of Timothy. We cannot conclude this absolutely from Acts 16:1, because both Derbe and Lystra are there mentioned, but in Acts 20:4 we have an enumeration in which are the words ‘Gaius of Derbe and Timotheus,’ where the form of the expression makes it almost certain that the latter was not of Derbe. Further, when St Paul recalls to Timothy his sufferings undergone at this period (2 Timothy 3:10-11), he says ‘Thou hast fully known … the persecutions and afflictions which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra,’ words which seem to connect Timothy with the last-named place, and when taken in connexion with the other passages to be conclusive that Timothy did not live at Derbe.

That Timothy was made a convert to Christianity at this first visit of St Paul is plain from Acts 16:1, where on the Apostle’s second visit he is called ‘a disciple.’ It is also clear from the same passage (Acts 16:3) that there could have been but few Jews at Lystra at this time, or else the son of a religious Jewess would hardly have remained uncircumcised till he had reached man’s estate. Some, however, have thought that this may have come to pass through the influence of the Greek father of Timothy.

ἀδύνατος τοῖς ποσὶν ἐκάθητο, there sat a certain man impotent in his feet. Perhaps this cripple, like that other in Jerusalem (Acts 3:2), was brought by his friends to some much frequented place that he might ask alms of them that passed by. There is no mention of a synagogue in Lystra, and it is very improbable that there was one. The Apostles therefore would seek out some place of public resort where they might proclaim their message, and such a position would also be most adapted for the purposes of a begging cripple.

It is worth while to notice once again in what precise and peculiar terms Luke, the physician, describes the nature of this and other maladies which claim mention in the history.