"Archaeologists have made a stunning discovery at a biblical city where the Apostle Paul famously performed a miraculous healing of a man born lame. Teams working in the ancient city of Lystra have uncovered a 100-foot-long basilica adorned with gold-gilded mosaics and richly decorated walls, hallmarks of late antique craftsmanship. The basilica provides tangible evidence that Lystra was a thriving urban center during the earliest centuries of Christianity."
"The discovery confirms biblical accounts by showing that Lystra was a real, organized Christian community, large enough to support worship, leadership structures, and the activities described in the Acts of the Apostles, including Paul's healing miracles and the appointment of Timothy as a church leader. Its location near modern-day Hatunsaray in central Anatolia also aligns with the geographic details mentioned in scripture, reinforcing the historical accuracy of the biblical narrative."
"Although Lystra's importance has long been recorded in the Bible, where it is mentioned eight times, the unearthing of this basilica provides concrete archaeological evidence of the city's role in spreading Christianity across the region. The basilica likely functioned as both a center of worship and an administrative hub, illustrating how early Christian church organization developed in Anatolia, particularly around Konya, known in ancient times as Iconium."
"Archaeologists believe the find could be the clearest proof yet that stories once confined to scripture were grounded in the living cities and miracles of the ancient world. Established as a Roman colony under Emperor Augustus, Lystra rose to prominence as one of the leading cities in the ancient region of Lycaonia. According to the New Testament, Paul and his companion Barnabas visited the city during their first-century missionary journeys."
The 100-foot basilica uncovered at Lystra features gold-gilded mosaics and richly decorated walls indicative of late antique craftsmanship. The structure demonstrates that Lystra functioned as a thriving urban center in the earliest centuries of Christianity, able to sustain organized worship, leadership, and administrative activities. The site's proximity to modern Hatunsaray in central Anatolia matches New Testament geographic details, supporting the historical grounding of Acts narratives about Paul's healing of a man born lame and the appointment of Timothy. Lystra's Roman colonial status under Augustus and prominence in Lycaonia contextualize its capacity to influence Christian spread across Anatolia and the Konya/Iconium region.
Read at Mail Online
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