Lydia

Lydia was the first convert to Christianity in Europe.  Although she was originally from Thyatira, a province in Asia Minor, she lived in Macedonia a Roman province which lies in modern-day northern Greece.  Paul, Silas, and Timothy were forbidden by God to continue to minister in Asia Minor.  A dream about a man calling Paul to Macedonia led the trio there. Luke joined them during their journey. This was Paul’s second missionary journey. They went to Philippi, which was a large city in Macedonia. It was Paul’s practice to preach to the Jews before taking God’s word to Gentiles because Jews would not listen to his message unless they heard it first.  There were too few Jews in Philippi for there to be a synagogue, but Paul learned that on the Sabbath there were a group of women who met to pray at the river.  He and his entourage went there to preach to them.

Lydia was among the women at the river, and she probably worshiped with them regularly.  Although she was a worshiper of God, she was not a Jew. She was a Gentile. She was also a businesswoman who sold purple dye and purple cloth. Both were very expensive, so she was probably a woman of means. She was so convicted by Paul’s preaching that she became a believer in Christ and  had her family baptized with her in the river that day.

After her baptism, Lydia invited Paul and his men to come and stay at her home. They did so, but when Paul exorcised a servant girl’s demons, and she could no longer use her demonic spirit to make money for her owner, Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed. After the miracle of their release from jail and the conversion to Christianity of their jailer and his family, Paul and Silas returned to Lydia’s home, and Paul preached to those who wanted to hear his message. A church was born.

The church at Philippi was the first in Europe.  It was a strong church which continued to thrive and develop long after Paul departed. The Book of Philippians is Paul’s love letter to the church about the joy of the Christian experience. The church began with Lydia’s conversion.

 Biblical Principles:

• Although Lydia was from a region where Paul had ministered previously, the gospel found her in Europe. (Acts 16:14)
• God opened Lydia’s heart to receive Paul’s message. (Acts.16:14)
• Lydia’s conversion was her family’s salvation. (Acts 16:15)
• Lydia’s hospitality was her spiritual gift. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

For Women Today:

Lydia had a heart for God.  She was a believer, but she had not embraced a religion.  When she heard Paul’s message of Jesus’ death and resurrection for her salvation, she embraced Jesus. She was able to do that without hesitation because God had put in her the desire to dedicate her life to Him.  God endows each of us with the potential to love Him and to bring Him into our lives.  It is our responsibility to accept Him as our savior, and the leader of our life. Lydia’s invitation to Paul, Silas, and Timothy to come to her home mirrored her dedication to her newfound God. Her hospitality grew out of her appreciation for them showing her the way to her new life as a Christian. If we invite Jesus into our lives as Lydia invited them into her home, we will be rewarded with God’s grace and mercy just as Paul, Silas and Timothy were rewarded with Lydia’s hospitality.  Lydia a new convert to Christ was the beginning of the first church in Europe