Paul’s second missionary journey was well under way when the apostle and his companions were stopped by the Spirit of God from taking the gospel into Bithynia, the result being that the Spirit thrust them into Europe. Having crossed the Aegean Sea, this party of gospel pioneers landed at Neapolis, the seaport of Philippi, and then proceeded to Philippi proper. The far-reaching effects of the events recorded in Acts 16 can hardly be overestimated. Philippi, originally called Crenides (from its many springs), was seized by Philip of Macedon in 356 bc. In 168 bc, it passed to the Romans with the rest of Macedonia, and in 42 bc it was made a Roman colony—“Rome away from Rome.” Soon it was to feel the impact of the gospel.
The situation in which Paul and his fellow-laborers found themselves was not a promising one, but as always proves true, “Little is much when God is in it.” It is apparent that Philippi, being a military outpost, had few Jews. There was no synagogue there, but a mile west of the city by the Gangites River an enclosure had been noticed which they “supposed…was a place of prayer” (16:13, asv). A new era for women and for Europe was about to dawn, Lydia being the first convert on the continent of whom we have record.
In pursuit of the Holy Spirit’s brief biography of Lydia, we wish to stress two particular things.
HER OPENED HEART
Lydia’s birthplace was undoubtedly Thyatira in Lydia, the latter having been a Macedonian colony in Asia Minor. It may be that she was named after her homeland. One of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation was located at Thyatira (see Rev. 2:18-29), the city having been especially noted for its dyers. Lydia became “a seller of purple” (16:14), purple being a name for a dye which was made from shellfish. The fluid from them was placed on wool, which turned it blue. It was then exposed to sunlight, which turned it green, and finally purple. When it was washed in water it became a brilliant crimson, such material was widely desired and brought a high price. Lydia apparently became a woman of considerable means, eventually carrying on her lucrative business away from her home city. However, money cannot buy peace of mind and heavenly joy, and she was typical of multitudes in her day, as well as at present, groping after reality amidst the vexation of this earthly scene.
Perhaps Lydia had become a Jewish proselyte in her home city, for at that time there was a Jewish settlement in Thyatira interested in the dyeing industry. At any rate, the pagan practices of her day could not satisfy her inner longings, so she sought the monotheism of the Jews.
It is also apparent that she was sincere. In the darkness of her soul Lydia truly longed for heavenly light and peace, and I am convinced that anyone who truly desires to know God will eventually be given light from God Himself. Lydia meant business with God, and through divinely-directed circumstances light came to her through Paul and his companions.
The power which lightened it. Paul, Silas, Luke, and Timothy were helpless in themselves to open Lydia’s heart to Christ and to the truth of God’s Word. They were but instruments in the hand of God, but as they conversed with these women by the riverside, presenting the claims of Christ on the soul, Lydia truly believed on the Saviour, realizing that here at last was the answer she had been sincerely seeking in regard to the problem of her sins. Having heard the way of salvation, her heart was opened by the Lord as she heeded the things spoken by Paul (see 16:14 with Rom. 10:17).
The Person who became Lord of it. The entrance of the Lord Jesus Christ into her heart led quickly to the enthronement of Christ over the same. Lydia readily submitted to Christian baptism, thereby publicly confessing the Lord Jesus before all. It is not important to know whether she was saved that particular Sabbath or not. The fact remains that she was truly brought to know Christ, and also her “household” (16:15), all taking their stand in the waters of baptism.
The Lord Jesus Christ had been placed on the throne of Lydia’s life, not just on the threshold. To her, Christ was indeed Lord of all!
HER OPENED HOME
The lowliness which prompted it. Having willingly submitted to water baptism, this in itself being a token of her faithfulness to the Lord, Lydia asked Paul and his fellow-laborers to abide in her house, that is, if they had judged her to be faithful. She wanted her house to be used for the glory of her Lord, knowing that it could serve as a splendid base of operations for the furtherance of the gospel of Christ. Actually, “if” in verse 15 should read “since,” Lydia knowing that Paul and his companions had already judged her to be faithful, and so she made known her desire toward them.
The love which provided it. Note the closing words of verse 15: “And she constrained us” (the only other place in the New Testament where the word for “constrained” is used is in Luke 24:29). It is apparent that Paul at first demurred, preferring to be independent, burdening no one, not even a woman of wealth. However, as the New Testament scholar A. T. Robertson has said, Lydia “had her way as women usually do” (Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. 3, p. 254).
It was Christ-like love which provided a home for these pioneers of faith. Apart from such homes the early missionary movement would hardly have been possible. There is a continuing need for similar homes today. Is your home open to the Lord and His own?
The liberality which permeated it. What a haven of hospitality Lydia’s home must have become (16:40)! Those of God’s people needing shelter and comfort were afforded a warm welcome. Perhaps it became the meeting place of the first assembly established in Europe, just like the church in Philemon’s house (Philem. 2). Though Lydia is not named, she is undoubtedly included in the women mentioned in Philippians 4:3. Furthermore, it is quite probable that she was used by the Lord to carry the gospel back to her native city of Thyatira, one of the very areas Paul and his companions had been forbidden by the Spirit to go (see 16:6-8).
It is significant that the gospel of Christ in Europe had its beginning in the hearts and lives of women and, in a sense, the Macedonian call was that of a woman—namely, Lydia. Have you ever heard such a call? Have you endeavored to go (16:10)?