Paul and Barnabas traveled to Lystra during their first missionary journey after opposition arose at Iconium. Paul healed a man who had been unable to walk from birth.
The crowd interpreted the miracle through their pagan religious traditions and called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes. The priest of Zeus brought animals and garlands intending to offer sacrifice, but Paul and Barnabas urgently rejected the worship and called the people to turn from idols to the living God.
Opponents later arrived from Antioch and Iconium, persuaded the crowd against Paul, and stoned him. Believing him dead, they dragged him outside the city, but Paul arose and subsequently continued his mission.
Paul returned to the region on a later journey and met Timothy, a young disciple with a Jewish mother and Greek father, who then accompanied Paul in his missionary work.