Paul Tells Lydia About Jesus

Paul in Philippi tells Lydia, the seller of purple, about Jesus and founds a congregation in her home.

Acts 16:9-15, 40

     Paul and Barnabas had been companions on the first missionary journey. Because Barnabas insisted on taking John Mark along on the second journey, he and Paul went their separate ways.

     As his companion Paul chose Silas, who was a prominent member of the church at Jerusalem and also a Roman citizen.

     At Lystra, Timothy joined Paul and Silas. Although he was still very young, scarcely 20, he had been very active in Lystra and Iconium in keeping alive and strengthening the faith of the Christians. He was commissioned by the elders of the churches (1 Tim. 4:14: 2 Tim. 1:6).

     Seemingly Paul had in mind to begin work in the province of Asia, the westernmost province of Asia Minor. It was the oldest, the richest, and also the most heavily populated of the eastern provinces in the Roman empire. It would have been an ideal place to begin, but God desired it otherwise.

     Paul and his friends finally came to Troas, which lay 12 miles south of the famous Troy of Homer. Here Luke joined them. One night God sent Paul a vision, calling him to begin work in Macedonia across the Aegean Sea. This was a very important Roman province. Through it passed the Egnatian Way, the main commercial and military highway from the eastern part of the empire to Rome.

     Boarding a ship sailing to Neapolis, the harbor of Philippi, they made the 175 mile voyage in two days. The first night at sea they anchored at the rocky isle of Samothrace, at about the halfway mark. As they neared Neapolis, they could see the temple of Aphrodite (Diana) high up on the hill on which the town was built.

     Disembarking at Neapolis, Paul and his associates climbed up the hill and from the heights above saw the plain in which Philippi lay. It took them about three hours to walk the ten miles to Philippi.

Philippi occupied a strong and dominant position in the plain and partly on a hill known as Mount Orbelos. Near the town were silver and gold mines.

     After the decisive battle in 42 B.C., Mark Antony made Philippi a Roman colony. In 30 B.C. Octavian, later Emperor Augustus, settled some people from Italy and gave the city further honors.

     As a Roman colony Philippi enjoyed the right of self-government, immunity from imperial tribute, and the same rights as the people in Italy. In many respects it was a miniature Rome. Its citizens felt superior to the natives living in and around the colony. They were very much concerned to guard their dignity of their status.

     Paul and his friends found a "place of prayer" along a river outside the city.

       Only a group of women had come together to worship on the, Sabbath. They shared the Gospel with them.

     Among their hearers was Lydia, a dealer in purple goods. She had come from Thyatira in Asia Minor. This city was known for a special purple dye made from the madder root. Some think that Lydia was the commercial representative of a guild of dyers.

     Since purple cloth was very expensive at that time, it is not improbable that Lydia was wealthy. She probably lived in a large house built in the Greek style, making it possible for her to accommodate Paul and his associates as guests.

     Judging from the houses found at Pompeii, the house may have had an entrance leading to an anteroom open to the sky and ornamented with shrubs and flowers. Beyond this was a peristyle court with sleeping rooms opening from a gallery on

       Only a group of women had come together to worship on the- Sabbath. They shared the Gospel with them.

     Among their hearers was Lydia, a dealer in purple goods. She had come from Thyatira in Asia Minor. This city was known for a special purple dye made from the madder root. Some think that Lydia was the commercial representative of a guild of dyers.

     Since purple cloth was very expensive at that time, it is not improbable that Lydia was wealthy. She probably lived in a large house built in the Greek style, making it possible for her to accommodate Paul and his associates as guests.

     Judging from the houses found at Pompeii, the house may have had an entrance leading to an anteroom open to the sky and ornamented with shrubs and flowers. Beyond this was a peristyle court with sleeping rooms opening from a gallery on

the second floor.

       Luke tells us that Lydia believed the things spoken by Paul. Therefore, she and all of her house were baptized. Lydia felt that she had to express her faith and her love for the Savior by sharing her house with Paul and his helpers. Note how she urged, "If you're convinced that I believe in the Lord, come and stay with me." Finally they accepted her generous invitation. Her house probably served as the meeting place for the church at Philippi.

    Because of the difficulties described in verses 16 to 39 Paul and Silas left Philippi to go on to Thessalonica. However, the Christians at Philippi remained very dear to Paul. They repeatedly remembered his need for support, and sent money to him. Later Paul sent them the rather personal epistle known today as "Philippians."