Jesus Christ
The Roman Centurion, who had built a synagogue for the Jews
The palsied servant of the Roman Centurion
Location
Capernaum
When
After the Sermon on the Mount, down from the Mountain
After the healing of the Leper
After the healing of Peter's Mother-in-Law
Type of Healing
Palsy, of a Servant
The Request
"Lord my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.", and
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof but speak the word only , and my servant shall be healed."
The Centurion regards in humility, the understanding of authority, rank, order and obedience:
Mt 8:9 For Iam a man under authority , having soliders under me and I say to this man, God and he goeth; and to antoher,
Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Means of Healing, The Healing
The Word of Jesus.
And Jesus aith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8:7
And Jesus said unto the Centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. 8:13
Outcome
And his servant was healed the same hour. Mt 8:13
People's Reaction
The Reaction of the people around is not noted.
Jesus' or Apostle's Teaching
Jesus remarks having not found greater faith in Israel, and on accounts of great faith in other Gentiles.
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel.
Implications for Faith
The implications of this healing are varied:
1. Jesus speaks, and is not even present, but the man is healed, noting the ubiquitous power of God.
2. Jesus heals a Gentile's servant noting that God is no respecter of persons, or of lowliness of the state of a human being in his beneficence.
3. Jesus stresses faith over race and nations, while keeping the Jews first, as a separated and sanctified nation.
4. Jesus uses this healing to teach of eternal life and judgment
5. Healing can be as in this instance, by word, without touching, meeting faith
6. Jesus points to rank and order in Divine authority and surrender, and
7. Vicarious requests for healing in faith are honored.
This healing of a palsied servant, without the request of the servant, without Jewish heritage, without even the faith of the servant (eminent in most healings) shows the power and authority of divine healing. Jesus is healer, but he is also 'Commander in Chief' and nothing is too hard for him, or beyond the loving touch of his healing, including the atrophied condition of a servant in Israel, nor the hard heartedness of a Roman soldier, of the order who would later crucify the healer.
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts
Also in Luke 7 1-10.
Note also the use of Gentiles' faith to provoke Israel to obedience and
leadership, and
The application and commendable nature of Authority and rank order and obedience in the divine
order as well as earthly parallels. A discussion may be found at Healing of Christ: The Centurion's Servant
Healing of the Paralytic
(Man with Palsy, lowered through the Roof) Mt 9:2-8; Mk 2:2-12; Lk 5:18-26
Jesus Christ
A Crowd of people in or near Capernaum, including Pharisees and Scribes
The palsied bed ridden paralytic
The Friends of the Paralytic who let him down through a tiled roof.
Location
Capernaum
When
After the Sermon on the Mount, down from the Mountain
After the healing of the Leper
After the healing of Peter's Mother-in-Law Right before the choosing of the disciples.
Type of Healing
Palsy, of a Man let down through a roof. The man is bedridden
The Request
Not a direct request, but because they could not get his bed through the crowd, they lowered him
from the roof, directly in front of Jesus.
" Mar 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken [it] up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay..
Means of Healing, The Healing
The Word of Jesus.
Mar 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (also Luke 5:19; Mt 9:2)
Mt 9:6
But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Mk 2:11
I say unto thee Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine own house.
Lk 5:24
... I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
And Jesus said unto the Centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. 8:13
Outcome
The man is immediately healed, takes up his bed, and returns home, glorifying God.
Mt 9:7 And he arose and departed to his house.
Mark notes that it was seen of all:
Mk 2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all;...,
and Luke 5:25 adds that he "...departed to his own house, glorifying God.
People's Reaction
The Reaction of the people is a)Glorifying God and Astonishment B)Pharisees and Scribes are perceived by
Jesus to have 'evil in their hearts' about whether Messiah can forgive sin:
Mt. 9:4
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say,Arise and walk?
Mark 2:8
And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them,
Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9 Whether it is easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee;or to say Arise, and take up thy bed and walk?
Luke 5:22
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts he answering said unto them What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
Jesus' or Apostle's Teaching
Jesus remarks having not found greater faith in Israel, and on accounts of great faith in other Gentiles.
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel.
Implications for Faith
The implications of this healing are varied:
1. Messiah can forgive sin, and the forgiveness of sin is the greatest of healings.
2. The Word of God both heals and forgives
3. The healing is immediate.
4. Praise and glorifying God, like in most complete healings follow the healing.
5. The Sovereignty of God is demonstrated both over the curse of the Fall and physical healing: prophets had
before healed, but not forgiven sin. This also distinguished Jesus, Yshua, from other prophets, even the greatest.
6. Scribes and Pharisees attend, and while there is 'evil in their hearts' there are there either to 'spy' or in interest.
7. The utter uniqueness of the event is commented on twice:
Luk 5:26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
Mar 2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Jesus Christ
The disciples
Scribes and Pharisees at dinner
The man with the withered hand
Location
In the synagogue of Pharisees (Mk 2:24;3:1; Mt 12:2,9;13) in the area of Capernaum,
in a synagogue near Gennesaret.
When
After the teaching regarding picking corn on the sabbath
After the Calling of the 12
After the healing of Leprosy
After the healing of the Paralytic lowered through the rooftop
Right after the parable of new wine in old bottles , all in Chapter 5 of Luke.
Type of Healing
A Withered hand: in Greek, Xeraino, "to wither, shrivel, become rigid, dired up or 'pineth away'". [from Strongs]
also related: Xeros: which refers to a dry land, by etension shriveled or withered, parayzed, or an 'atrophied' limb'.
[Strongs 3583 and 3584]
...he entered into the synagogue and he taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
The Request
No request is noted, but Jesus preaches and teaches, and the Pharisees watch him to see if he
will heal: he perceives what they are thinking:
And they watched him, wheter he would heal him on the Sabbath day that they might accuse him. Mk 3:2
Luke 6:8..But he knew their thoughts....
Means of Healing, The Healing
The Word of Jesus.
Mt. 12:11-13: And he said unto them, What man shall there be among your, that shall have one sheep, and if it
fell into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than
a sheep? Where fore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath Days.
Note in Luke 6, right before the healing, the question of healing on the Sabbath also arises:
Then said Jesus unto them Is it lawful on the Sabbath Days to do good, or to do evil? to save life
or destroy it?
[The sheep in a pit is not here but in Luke 6:3, before the heaing]
Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, When himself was an hungered, and they which were with him; 6:4 How he went into the house of God, and did thake and eat the shewbread,
and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? 5 And he said unto them,That the Son of Man is Lord also of the sabbath."
The means of healing is the spoken word:
Stretch forth thy hand Luk6:10
And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
Mt 12:13
Then saith he unto the man, Stretch forththine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it wasrestored whole,like as the other.
And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being greived for the hardness of their hearts,
he saith unto theman, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched itout: and his hand was restored whole
as the other. Mark 3:5
Outcome
The man's hand is immediately healed, or 'made whole'.
People's Reaction
The reaction here is peculiar because 1) He is not among the people at large, save for the attendees at the
Synagogue, and 2) many of the attendees are Scribes and Pharisees, who are deeply disturbed at the idea of healing
being a 'work' on the Sabbath. Their reaction seems to range between astonishment (Luke 6:11), and anger, and
even vengeful retaliation, thinking
that the 'Lord of the Sabbath' has defiled the Sabbath.
Luke 6:11 And they were filled with madness; and communed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Jesus' or Apostle's Teaching
The main teaching here is on the 'hardness of hearts' that cannot distinguish between the spirit of the Law
and the letter of the Law, and implicitly and explicitly that the "Lord of the Sabbath", Jesus Christ the Messiah of Israel
is our seventh day rest, he IS Shabbat, and therefore is Lord over shabbat.
(Luke 6:5)
In the passage in Matthew, the eminent lesson is clearly taught:
Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
Healing is allowed, as love is allowed, in the Synagogue on the sabbath day.
Implications for Faith
The implications of this healing are varied:
1. Pharisees of the local synagogue WATCH Jesus: a characteristic of many leglistic folk is that they constantly hold others to an unattainable uncofmortable plumbline
that they themselves seldom live up to. They see Jesus and his disciples plucking corn and rbuke him, but they come to
their synagogue, hear him teach, and are 'filled with madness' at the withered hand made whole. Legalism almost always involves
an exaggerated scrutiny of the behavior of others: but here they were looking to find fault with the Savior, and to do away
with him when he teaches a 'merciful doctrine'.
2. It is the man's RIGHT hand that is withered: this is significant because the right hand is a symbol of authority (2 Kings 23:13)
and the works of God: God's right hand gives The Law, or Torah, Dt 33:2, it points to an anointing; it is refered to with the blood covering of
the High Priest, Ex 29:20; the Power of God , and Protection. Ex 15:6; There is a right hand of blessing Gen 48:17, teaching, salvation,righteousness (Is 41:10)
valiance, and judgment, and corruption if bad. (Ps 109:6 Ps 144:18) and even of creation. (Is 48:13) When the right hand of the man
is withered, it points to corruption, evil and sin the path apart from God, in a 'withered right hand'. Note the interesting parallel
when the word'withered' is mentioned elsewhere, of a fig tree that would not produce fruit for the Savior when he comes in the
third millennium looking for fruit on his tree, the year of dedication. Jesus curses the 'withered' tree of dead works and legalism,
but restores fully the repentant man to the fullness of use of the 'right hand' of power, blessing, salvation, etc.
3. When the general public sees other healings, they are often astonished, some fearful, and many are saved. When the Pharisees
and scribes of this synagogue who start out somewhat friendly in that they hear him out, but with the healing, become 'filled with
madness' and watched him that they might find an accusation against him". (Luke 6:6-10) They seek the Hrodians against him to destroy
him (Mark 3:6)
Mar 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
4. Healing on the Sabbath, mercy and love on the Sabbath are just fine with God. Jesus never negates the Torah, but brings
man's mind into an understanding of the balance of obeying and respecting the Law, but carrying forth the primary Laws of loving
God with all your heart and mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself. God made Shabbat FOR man for healing: healing is not
wrong on the day of rest and healing.
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts
Herodians: Wayne Blank of Keyways [http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/20020825.htm]notes that the Herodians were a political body who supported Rome's
auspices of Herod's rule, and that Jesus came up against the Herodians more than once: in this instance, where they were
afraid of the overthrow by Jesus of their political power; and in the rebuke to 'render unto Caesar the things that are
Caesars, and to God the things that are God's". In the end, the Herodians and their complicit crowds address Rome
through Pilate declaring "We have no king but Caesar". Hea.....on's Servant
Disciples, the Saints at Lydda
Aeneas with palsy, 8 years in bed
Peter
Location
Lydda
When
After Saul (Paul) came to faith in Christ on the Damascus Road,
After Paul went to Jerusalem but the believers there were afraid of him.
Before Peter goes to Joppa to raise Dorcas from the dead
Type of Healing
Palsy, of Aeneas, who was 8 years in bed.
The Request
It says only that Peter 'found him'.
Means of Healing, The Healing
The Word of Peter
And Peter said unto him Aeneas, Jesus Christ maeth thee whole: Arise, and and make thy bed.
Outcome
An Immediate Healing
And he arose immediately Acts 9: 34
People's Reaction
And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. Acts 9:35
Apostle's Teaching
While it is fairly obvious that there was some preaching and teaching as with all the healings,
what was preached and taught is not discussed in the healing of Aeneas. It is clear that "Jesus Christ
maketh thee whole" is a sermon in itself. They are implying healing and the idea of 'wholeness' in body, mind
and spirit.
Implications for Faith
The implications of this healing are varied:
Here then is the sum of the healing of Aeneas by Peter:
1. Peter enters into Lydda and encounters Aeneas, 8 years with palsy.
2. Peter calls Aeneas' name
3. Peter names 'THE NAME' of Jesus,
4. Peter points to Jesus making Aeneas whole
5. Peter through the Holy Ghost commands "Arise...and make thy bed"
6. Aeneas immediately obeys
7. Two towns see him and turn to the Lord. (Lydda and Saron)
Healing is for the Gospel and the gospel for healing. It is only through Salvation that we are made totally whole.
This healing of a palsied servant, without the request of the servant, without Jewish heritage, without even the faith of the servant (eminent in most healings) shows the power and authority of divine healing. Jesus is healer, but he is also 'Commander in Chief' and nothing is too hard for him, or beyond the loving touch of his healing, including the atrophied condition of a servant in Israel, nor the hard heartedness of a Roman soldier, of the order who would later crucify the healer.
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts
The viewing of the healing alone causes many to come to faith in Jesus Christ, and the command 'arise' is present
as it is in so many other healings.
Lydda, known as Lod is on the Sharon plain about 9 miles south of Tel Aviv. When Jewish immigrants returned the name 'Lod' was
restored. The mention of Lod in the Bible occurs notably here, and in Ezra 2:33 as one of the cities that
the dispersed from exile returned. Under Gamaliel II, the city was sieged and many were slain, hence the Talmudic
reference to the 'slain of Lydda'.[Wikipedia]Healing of Christ: The Centurion's Servant
Acts 3:2 Act 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Location
Jerusalem, at the Gate Beautiful
When
The 9th hour, which was the hour of Prayer at the Temple
Immediately following Pentecost and the salvation of 3000.
Type of Healing
Lame, from his mother's womb
The Request
The first request is for nothing more than alms.
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms. (Acts 3:4) AndPeter fastening his eyes upon him
with John,said, 'Look on us.'And he gave heed unto them expecting
to receive something of them.
Normally faith is elicited, but here, a mere act of obedience to the apostles, is enough.
Means of Healing, The Healing
The Word of Peter:
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 Andhe took him by the right hand, and lifted him up; and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.
Outcome
There is:
a)An immediate healing
(b) He takes him by the right hand
(c)The healing is in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and
(d)Strength enters into the feet and ankles. (see above)
Act 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
People's Reaction
Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
Act 3:10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the
Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
Jesus' or Apostle's Teaching
The teaching that follows the healing, is as the healed man at the Gate holds on to Peter and John,
and they make it clear that Jesus Christ is whom has healed the man, in one of the clearest 'sermons' of centuries:
Act 3:11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
Act 3:12 And when Peter saw [it], he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let [him] go.
Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Act 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Act 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did [it], as [did] also your rulers.
Act 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Act 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Act 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Act 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Act 3:23 And it shall come to pass, [that] every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
Act 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
Act 3:25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
Act 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Implications for Faith
The implications of this healing are varied:
1. The people are astounded that following Pentecost the healings and miracle they saw or heard that Jesus did,
are now present in his disciples: Jesus is not present in the flesh any longer, but his work continues, with this
first healing following Pentecost.
2. Jesus is clearly the 'reason for all seasons', and the healing is quickly turned to a lesson on the Holy One
of Israel whom we all rejected, the Prince of Life, whom we killed, and the intense need for repentance. God in justice
raised him up: just as in microcosm, Peter had raised up the man with the crippled legs.
3. Old testament passages are quoted in support of Peter's preaching, and Jesus' Messiahship. He uses Old Testament
passages to point to the Savior.
Act 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
4. It is no mistake that this first healing takes place at the Gate Beautiful, for it is the entrance into the Holy City
that is preached: the Greek is 'horaios' the bloom and vigor of life: and Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, and the Prince
of Peace whom we rejected, is the door, or gate into the City of God.
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts
The Gate Beautiful is noted thusly by Bible History:
Going beyond the Court of the Gentiles stood the magnificent 60 foot wide "Gate Beautiful" mentioned in Acts 3:2,10. It was also referred to as the "Gate Susan" because it contained a beautifully sculptured relief of the city of Susa. During the time of the morning and evening sacrifices this great entrance was the place of public worship.http://www.bible-history.com/court-of-women/beautiful_gate.html
P the apostle
The Crippled Man at Lystra
A crowd of people
Location
Lystra near Derbe, Cities of Lycaonia
When
After the division in the region of Iconium
Type of Healing
a man,
Acts 14 :8
"impotent in his feet, being a cripple since his mother's womb"
The Request
There is not a direct request, but the apostle Paul, through discernment,sees that
the man has the faith to be healed, who has listened to the preaching
"Act 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him,
and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, "
Means of Healing, The Healing
The Word of the Apostle Paul.
Act 14:10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
Outcome
The man is healed, and leaps and walks. (see above)
People's Reaction
The Reaction of the pagan people is to account Paul and Barnabas as 'god's of the Greek sort from Olympus:
Act 14:11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
Act 14:12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Act 14:13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
Act 14:14 [Which] when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard [of], they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
.
By the end the reaction is violent, as men from two other cities/regions join to oppose them:
Act 14:18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
Act 14:19 ¶ And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
Jesus' or Apostle's Teaching
The duo of Paul and Barnabas, like all godly men who encounter the mistake that men of this world make
when encountering true divine power for the first time, and mistaking God's men for divine beings, quickly rebuke
or admonish those in error not to count mere men as gods.
Act 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from
these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things
that are therein:
They then begin to teach/preach the central lesson of Salvation: our need to repent of our rejection of the Lord
and Savior, by directing their attention to the living God as creator (a very wise move for pagans who worshipped nature):
Act 14:16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
] Act 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that
he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Implications for Faith
The implications of this healing are :
1. This healing among pagans was not as readily received as among the Jews: the Jews understood signs and wonders.
2. Reaching pagans was done via the appeal to nature, and God as the creator of nature: they did not immediately jump
into the preaching of the cross, since they first sought to reach those of Lystra at the point of understanding they had.
3. They quickly rejected and corrected the 'vile'error of confusing them with God, with the confusion many secular people
have of the power of God working through a person, rather than emanating from the human person. The 'indwelling' of the Holy
Spirit, is not the same as the Incarnation. (A point that needs to be taught in this day and hour).
4. The anger towards the two is mystifying in part: they seem to be angered at the introduction of 'another god', but
also at Paul and Barnabas' rejection of their worship. The result is violence:
Act 14:18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
Act 14:19 And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium,
who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
They thought having stoned Paul he would be dead, so agitated and brutal they were to the two whose great crime had
been healing and preaching. Still a few came to the Lord (see Acts 14:20) from Lystra Derbe and the region: Paul departs
to Derbe, but the evidence of his Holy Spirit boldness comes when he returns from Derbe back to Lystra, the place they thought
they had stoned him to death.
5. A side implication is that when one sees the Gospel as important as it is, even a deadly stoning should not stop us.
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts
The true Derbe at Kerti Huyuk was found in 1956 via an inscription: Lystra sat on a thoroughfare between Iconium and Laranda.
It was a 'market city', a Roman colony, and became Christian as the '56 excavation also found a grave in Derbe marking
a bishop's burial place [http://www.bibleplaces.com/derbelystra.htm] Healing of Christ: The Centurion's Servant
