Lydia?“Conversion to Christ and Hospitality Offered

Topic: Conversion
Passage: Acts 16:11–15

September 22, 2022

Commentary

Next, Paul and his party traveled from Troas to Neapolis, a distance of about 150 miles (v. 11). From there they traveled another 10 miles to Philippi (v. 12), which was strategically located on the Roman road. One of the ways Rome ruled the world at this time was through her colonies. At strategic points on the map she founded Roman settlements where Roman citizens set up outposts for the empire. Anything that happened there would reach the world. This Macedonian city was an outpost of Rome, and the citizens living there had the same rights that they would have had living in Rome itself.

The Jewish population living there must have been limited, for there was no synagogue.  (It took ten Jewish men to organize a synagogue). Paul found out that there were a handful of Jewish women who met for prayer down by the river bank, so he decided to join them (v. 13). At this meeting he met Lydia, who was a successful business-woman from Thyatira (v. 14). As Paul shared the Word she opened her heart to the truth and was saved. She immediately gave evidence of her conversion by being baptized, and opening up her home to the missionaries (v. 15). Presumably her home became the meeting place for Christians. Paul’s stay in this city was brief. Yet from this stop a very strong missionary church was born. It was from here that the Gospel was first preached in Europe.

Everyone needs to find his place in life. Notice how Lydia opened the door to her household, and learn how we can do the same, whether we are a man or a woman, young or old.

  1. You can find your place in small group prayer (v. 13).
  2. You can find your place in worship (v. 14).
  3. You can find your place when your good works show (v. 15).

Application

Lydia gives us an example of how our homes can be used for Christ. I always want to make our home available to missionaries when they are coming through, and I want to be an encouragement and help to them. Also I desire to be in the business of seeing many converted to Christ.

Acts 16:11– 15 (NET)

11 We put out to sea from Troas and sailed a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. We stayed in this city for some days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the side of the river, where we thought there would be a place of prayer, and we sat down and began to speak to the women who had assembled there. 14 A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, a God-fearing woman, listened to us. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she persuaded us.