Derbe

Derbe was a city in the Lycaonian region of Asia Minor, part of the province of Galatia (Acts 14:6). After Lystra was discovered, Bible scholars searched for Derbe, knowing from the book of Acts that it was a day’s journey away. In 1956, near Karaman in southern Turkey, scholars discovered a new inscription mentioning the name Derbe. This one-ton inscription, written in Greek, revealed the location of Derbe and ended all scholarly debate. Derbe, like Colossae and Lystra, is one of the few New Testament sites in Turkey that has yet to be fully excavated. Two inscriptions found at the site mention Derbe. So far, excavations have uncovered quarries, a cemetery, and ancient city walls.

Reposted from: http://www.chineseapologetics.net/archaeology/Derbe.htm

Paul visited Derbe multiple times during his missionary journeys. It was his last stop on his first journey (Acts 14:20), making it the easternmost city he visited. It was his first stop on his second journey (Acts 16:1). Gaius, a companion on his third journey, was a native of Derbe (Acts 20:4). Paul’s work in Derbe was successful and did not face opposition from the Jewish community. Paul and Barnabas could have continued eastward from Derbe, a downhill route that would have quickly brought them back to Antioch via Tarsus. Instead, they retraced their steps, visiting the churches in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, where they had previously faced persecution. These churches were all located in the southern part of the province of Galatia in Asia Minor.

As instruments of God, Paul and his companions were not discouraged by the setbacks and persecution they encountered in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. They left those places confidently, entrusting the outcome to God and believing the Holy Spirit would continue to work there. However, entrusting the outcome to God was not an excuse for laziness. They likely saw their smooth ministry in Derbe as a signal from the Holy Spirit to open a door, prompting them to quickly re-visit the churches. During this return visit, the Holy Spirit did not allow any further incidents, but instead enabled the apostles to calmly strengthen the disciples’ hearts and appoint elders to care for the Lord’s churches.

Accepting the gospel doesn’t make life easier; it changes a person’s life. The Christian journey is not just about peace and joy but also about spiritual warfare. Only by paying the price of self-denial can we take up our cross daily and follow the Lord. The entire missionary journey was under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and God’s workers responded with obedience and faithfulness—a beautiful example of believers partnering with God.