Acts 16:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

NIV: One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

NASB: A woman named Lydia was listening; she was a seller of purple fabrics from the city of Thyatira, and a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

CSB: A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying.

NLT: One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

Normally, when entering a new city, Paul attends the local synagogue and waits for an opportunity to speak (Acts 13:5, 14; 14:1; 18:4). He explains how Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament and how He died and rose again for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 13:16–41). Some of the Jews and God-worshiping Gentiles accept his claim, while others don't (Acts 13:43; 17:4). Philippi, however, doesn't seem to have the requisite ten Jews needed to maintain a synagogue. All it has is a group of women who worship the Jewish God and meet on the Sabbath at the river to pray.

One of these is Lydia. Thyatira is a town in Asia. The "Asia" mentioned here is not the modern continent, but a large province which takes up the western third of modern-day Asia Minor. Thyatira is one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation. Jesus warns them against a woman in their congregation who entices members into a mystery sex cult, although He also recognizes a good number in the church follows Him well (Revelation 2:18–29). We don't know if Lydia returns to Thyatira and is part of this church; if she is, she is almost certainly not the idolatrous woman.

That Lydia sells purple goods, native to her district, infers that she is wealthy. She soon invites Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke to stay in her home, which proves she is also generous. The church that starts with Lydia and her household continues that generous tradition, supporting Paul in his ministry to Thessalonica (Philippians 4:15–16).

Ironically, Paul had wanted to plant churches in Asia. There are many sizeable cities with strong Jewish populations that would welcome, to some degree, the message of Jesus. The Holy Spirit herds him away, however, to an Asian woman on the border of Macedonia and Greece.

Acts 16:11–15 sees Jesus' offer of salvation come to Macedonia. Paul, Silas, and Timothy have traveled through the province of Galatia, building up the churches. Now they quickly move through the western end of modern-day Asia Minor. They meet with Luke and cross the Aegean Sea. In Philippi, they meet Lydia who helps them plant the first church in Europe: the first predominantly Gentile church. The church in Philippi grows into a strong, generous body that Paul proudly holds up as an example for others.

Acts 16 follows Paul and Silas as they take the letter of Acts 15 into modern-day Asia Minor and Macedonia. They collect Timothy in Lystra and Luke in Troas. In Philippi, they meet Lydia and baptize her family. After expelling a demon from a fortune-telling girl, city officials illegally beat and imprison Paul and Silas. An earthquake frees them of their chains, but they stay and bring the jailer and his family to Christ. The next morning, Paul and Silas refuse to leave quietly, politely insisting that their civil rights have been violated. The officials apologize, and Paul, Silas, and Timothy go to Thessalonica.

Acts 15 ends with Paul and Silas spreading the news that Gentile Christians don't have to be circumcised. Acts 16 begins with Paul circumcising a Jewish man, Timothy, to prevent difficulties in preaching to older Jews as the boy grows into church leadership. Paul's second missionary trip finds the church growing east, into Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth (Acts 16:11—18:18). On his way back to Syrian Antioch, Paul will stop by Ephesus and soften the Jews for the extended ministry of Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos. During his first trip, Paul planted churches and ordained elders; in his second, he commissions more missionaries.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.