THE CONVERSION OF LYDIA

Acts 16:11-15 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women, which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Having received God's Macedonian call to preach His word of salvation to the people of Greece, Paul, along with Silas, Timothy, and Luke, sailed across the Aegean Sea to the small, mountainous island of Samothracia, which lay off the coast of the Roman province of Thrace. From thence, they sailed to the coastal city of Neapolis, which served as a seaport to Philippi. Named for Philip of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great, this was the chief city of Macedonia, which later was designated a Roman colony.

It appears that Philippi did not have sufficient Jewish population to warrant a synagogue in which to worship, because with the arrival of the Sabbath Day, and by a river side, ...prayer was wont to be made, and it was here that Paul, and his fellow laborers for Christ assembled to teach the word of God. It seems that many women had assembled here, one of which was Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God. Thyatira was city in Asia in which one of the seven churches of Christ was located and to which letters were written (Rev. 1:4 & 2:18-29). It was known as a thriving commercial and industrial city during the first century New Testament era.

Lydia is depicted here as a very successful businesswoman and family provider who was engaged in a profession as a seller of purple. This was a beautifully dyed cloth that was expensive, highly regarded, and used in the fabrication of clothing that was purchased and used by those who could afford its cost. The character of this lady tells us that our social and professional calling does not hinder our spiritual responsibilities to our God. Rather they go hand in hand, with one reinforcing and giving greater meaning to the other. Since she had assembled here on the Sabbath Day for prayer, we are assured that she was a devout Jewess, or at least a proselyte to Judaism.

In the midst of this Jewish religious gathering Paul said that he, and his fellow laborers in Christ, sat down, and spake unto the women, which resorted thither. That is, the Holy Spirit-inspired gospel message of eternal salvation through Christ Jesus, was preached unto them by these godly messengers. No doubt they confirmed Jesus to be to be the Son of God, the promised Messiah, and Savior of all mankind. No doubt they taught the same message of salvation that was preached by Peter and the other apostles to those present in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost following Christ's ascension back into heaven. No doubt they were taught to repent and be baptized ...in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), just as they were on that day. And how do we know this to be true? Because the response of Lydia and her household (her believing family) was the same as the first three thousand souls that heard and obeyed God's call to salvation on that glorious holy day. ...(S)he was baptized, and her household! They, too, were baptized for the remission of their sins. Having gathered by the Philippian riverside, this godly woman, and her family, were more than likely baptized in its waters. And having done so, they, too, were added by God to His church, the church of Christ, just as those were on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:47). Lydia said unto them, come into my house, and abide there. Indeed, God opened her heart (Vs. 14), and in turn she opened her doors of hospitality to His messengers of salvation in Christ Jesus.

As it was then, so it is today! All that have an open and receptive heart and are earnestly seeking the hope of eternal salvation, God asks no more of us than that which was asked of these women that had gathered on the banks of this river in Philippi. Nothing more and nothing less is required of those that seek eternal life than that which God asked through the apostles of Christ on the Day of Pentecost. Thanks be to God!