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Home , Antioch of Pisidia, Derbe, Derbe (Diocese), Galatia, Galatia (Roman province), Lystra

Four Cities of During Paul’s time, Galatia was a in Iconium central Minor, now known as . The ancient Iconium was an important city, mentioned six times name originated from the “Gallia,” the land of the in the . The modern city of in of western . The called these people Turkey is the site of the ancient city. “Galatai.” Iconium was located in a small plain, almost 3,400 When Paul wrote the letter to the , this feet above sea level. The high Pisidian mountains lay to province was divided into two . The principal the west, and mountains of lesser height lay to the east. cities of the northern were Ancyra, , and Snow and rain provided moisture for growing wheat, . The cities of the south included (near flax, and other produce. ), Iconium, , and . Paul’s letter was Coins found in excavations show the earlier Greek probably addressed to the four southern churches, the influence on Iconium after the third century B.C. Some of ones he visited on his first missionary journey. the coins show Perseus, believed to be the first ruler, ex- Paul was a native of . The main roads leading hibiting the head of a mythological, snake-like creature. away from his hometown passed through the southern Other coins show with a scepter, and the goddess part of Galatia, which was teeming with Jews. Athena with a spear entwined by a serpent. and Paul began their first missionary jour- Another of the discoveries includes an altar with a ney at Antioch in , sailing for the island of . Greek inscription dedicated to , the god worshiped From , on the western of the island, they by the Iconiums. At one time, Emperor (A.D. 41- sailed for , on the southern coast of Asia Minor. 54) prefixed his own name to the city, and came up with They then traveled overland some 140 miles to Pisidian Claudiconium. This name appears on some of the coins Antioch. From there, they traveled 90 miles southeast to that have been found. Iconium, another 18 miles south to Lystra, and yet an- other 60 miles southeast to Derbe. Lystra Let’s take a journey to these ancient sites. This was the hometown of Timothy. It was almost 20 miles south of Iconium on the Roman road Via . Pisidian Antioch The site of the ancient ruins of Lystra has been veri- Ancient is 2 miles west of the mod- fied by an ancient Roman altar found there. On it was ern city of Yalvac in Turkey. Seleucus I had named 16 the Latin inscription “Lustra.” different cities for Antiochus, his father. Therefore these Around 6 B.C. sent troops to Lystra to cap- towns had to have an added designation—in this case, ture it as a Roman colony. Coins show that the name of Pisidian Antioch. It was founded in 300 B.C., and became the city was changed to Julia Felix Gemina Lustra. a part of the Roman province of Galatia about 25 B.C. It The inhabitants of Lystra worshiped Greek gods. It was considered the capital of southern Galatia. was here that Barnabas was mistaken for Zeus, and Paul Excavations on this site have uncovered two large city for . In 1909, an inscription found near Lystra squares, partially bordered with houses and shops. In the gave a list of several “priests of Zeus.” Coins have been upper-city Square of Augustus, archaeologists uncovered an discovered showing the founder of Lystra digging a impressive stairway of 12 steps, some 70 feet in length. This boundary line with a plow pulled by a bull and a cow. led to the lower Square of Tiberius. Excavated were remains Another coin shows the goddess of Lystra sitting on a of its beautiful entrance gateway with three , in honor rock and crowned with a crescent. of Augustus. Archaeologists have also unearthed a Unlike most other cities Paul visited, no record of a copy of an important document, “Deeds accomplished by synagogue or a Jewish community has been found at the Divine Augustus.” This shows that faithful Jewish wor- Lystra’s site. It is possible that the Jews worshiped in a shipers lived alongside those who favored the emperor. temporary location. Also uncovered at Antioch was an outstanding water system, including pipes and ruins of a Roman Derbe some 5 miles to the north. Derbe was a secluded town, some 60 miles southeast The Roman colony of Pisidian Antioch had some ex- of Lystra. The site was not confirmed until 1956. In that quisite ancient buildings, including a Roman theater and year, an inscribed block of limestone was found that had a honoring one of their chief gods, Men. been dedicated in honor of the Emperor Antonimus Pius Ruins of churches, along with a small inscription in A.D. 157 by the town council and the citizens of Derbe. bearing the name of Optimus, of Antioch during It became known as the Derbe Stone. the years 378-81, tell us that Christianity continued at The mound now over what was once Derbe meas- Antioch long after the time of Paul and Barnabas. ures about 900 feet in length, 600 feet in breadth, and Upon leaving Pisidian Antioch for Iconium, Paul and stands 60 feet in height. Barnabas traveled one of the famous Roman military Derbe was the only town of the four cities that Paul roads. The Via Sebaste, a paved road, was built in 6 B.C. and Barnabas visited in Galatia in which they were not was known for its road-building. They were persecuted. made of four layers of sand, lime, broken stones, and mortar, topped with stones or gravel set in . by Lorraine O. Schultz Major roads were 20-25 feet wide, allowing couriers to a missionary and a student of biblical archaeology, now deceased travel up to 75 miles in a day.

68 ADULT FAITH CONNECTIONS LEADER ACTION GOAL FOR UNIT 2

Redeeming the Past July 29—August 26, 2007

Paul’s Past cleanses the guilty conscience (Hebrews 10:22). Howev- There is a decade in the life of Paul, after his conver- er, in spite of God’s grace, some believers hold on to sion, about which the scriptural account is virtually their feelings of guilt unnecessarily. In some instances, silent. During Paul’s silent decade, God was equipping those old guilty feelings have been ignored and denied him for the years of ministry ahead of him, preparing his for so long that it is hard to convince ourselves that we head and heart. You can be certain that part of Paul’s should no longer feel guilty. Let there be no question, preparation was his emotional and spiritual healing. the sacrifice of Christ is adequate to cleanse the heart of After Paul’s Damascus road experience, he sorely re- a guilty conscience. gretted his former role in the persecution of Christians. What is it that has you bound and holds you back? He had not only put many believers in prison, he had Do you still grieve over things God has forgiven? cast his vote against them when they were put to death Are you victimized by a wrong that remains unre- (:10). Even though he had experienced God’s for- solved? giveness, it is likely that a great deal of healing had to Are you overcome by your record of repeated failures? take place so that Paul could cope with his memories of those he had once persecuted. God’s Sufficient Grace We find an early indication of that healing in his let- Let it go! Turn it over to the Lord. Let Him redeem ter to the Galatians (ca. A.D. 48-49). Paul was able to re- your past and free you from that bondage. Allow Him to port that those he once persecuted were praising God make something good come from your greatest regret. because of his conversion (Galatians 1:23-24). Paul had During the next four weeks, from July 29 through August come to see that God could take the ugliest thing he had 26, you are encouraged to follow these simple disciplines: ever done and redeem it so that something good came Pray daily with a spirit of thankfulness for God’s from it (Romans 8:28). gracious dealings in your life. Near the end of Paul’s life, God had redeemed his Resolve any unfinished business in your life that past to such an extent that Paul could speak of the time has to do with either seeking or granting forgive- when he was “a blasphemer and a persecutor and a vio- ness. NOTE: If the other person is either deceased lent man” (:13) to show the extent of God’s or in whereabouts unknown, write out the things mercy and grace. you need to say to him or her, and submit your statement to the Lord. Your Past Consider keeping a daily journal, focusing specifically God’s grace not only cleanses the heart from sin, it on your memories and thoughts about forgiveness.

Our Mission 1. We recognize the mutually supportive roles of the 6. The is lifted up as the fundamental, legitimate, adult Sunday School, namely nurture, fellowship, and and practical authority and guide for living today. outreach. 7. We desire to allow the powerful Word of God to Nurture: The personal and spiritual growth of the in- speak for itself as adults discover its message, under- dividual through ongoing encounters with God’s standing its proper context and application. Word within a community of believers. 8. These materials show that the Bible tells a unified Fellowship: Building caring and supportive relation- and comprehensive story of God’s gracious interac- ships between adults. tion with people throughout history. Outreach: Reaching beyond the group-setting to 9. Encouragement is given to provide an environment others outside through evangelism, service, and per- where emphasis is placed on discovering God’s Word sonal application of session truths. within a community of believers in contrast to an in- 2. WordAction curriculum is committed to a twofold em- dividual-only course of study. phasis of both content learning (Word) and life change 10.Knowing that adults learn through a variety of learn- based on that encounter with the Word (Action). ing styles, this curriculum encourages a variety of 3. WordAction curriculum is distinctly Wesleyan-Holi- presentation methodologies. ness in theological perspective in selection of scrip- 11.We desire to assist the adult leader in personal spiri- ture themes and presentation. tual growth and excellence in facilitating group 4. We seek to provide the tools and confidence for growth. adults to read, understand, and live by God’s Word. 12.The importance of daily individual study of God’s 5. This curriculum explores the Bible in its variety of Word through Scripture memorization and reading is scope, literature, and themes. emphasized each week.

JUNE JULY AUGUST 69