Lydia (Acts 16:11–15; Acts 16:19–25; Acts 16:40)

Seller of Purple, of Thyatira

A seller of purple from Thyatira, one that worshipped God, living at Philippi, whose heart the Lord opened as Paul spoke by the riverside; she was baptized with her household and opened her home to Paul and his companions.

Lydia appears in a single chapter. On the sabbath, Paul and his companions went out of Philippi “by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer” (Acts 16:13), and spoke to the women gathered there.

She is introduced as “a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God” (Acts 16:14) — already one that worshipped God before she heard Paul. The account credits her response to the Lord: “whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14).

After her baptism she pressed the missionaries to stay with her, and when Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25) came out of prison it was at her house that they saw the brethren and comforted them (Acts 16:40).

Strengths

• Devotion
• Receptiveness
• Hospitality
• Persistence

Themes

• Conversion
• Hospitality
• Household faith
• The gospel comes to Macedonia

At the place of prayer (Acts 16:11–13)

On the sabbath Paul speaks to the women gathered by the river outside Philippi.

The Lord opens her heart (Acts 16:14)

Lydia, a worshipper of God, listens, and the Lord opens her heart to Paul's message.

The Lord opens her heart

The text names her trade and city — “a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira” (Acts 16:14) — and her standing before God: “one that worshipped God” (Acts 16:14).

The turning point is ascribed to the Lord, not to Paul's skill: “whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14).

Baptized with her household (Acts 16:15)

She and her household are baptized, and she urges the missionaries to stay in her home.

Baptized with her household

“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” (Acts 16:15).

Who made up her household, and whether it included children, the text does not say; Christians who differ on infant baptism read this verse differently.

The brethren at her house (Acts 16:25; Acts 16:40)

Out of prison, Paul and Silas go to Lydia's house, comfort the brethren there, and leave the city.

Paul (Acts 16:13–15)

Preached at the place of prayer; she besought him and his companions to abide in her house.

Silas (Acts 16:19–25; Acts 16:40)

Paul's companion at Philippi; came to her house after the prison.

Her household (Acts 16:15)

Major sections

• Acts 16:11–40

More illuminations · Harbinger's Lamp