LYDIA'S CONVERSION
Key verse: 14
NIV
Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi
11 From Troas(A) we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi,(B) a Roman colony and the leading city of that district[a] of Macedonia.(C) And we stayed there several days.
13 On the Sabbath(D) we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira(E) named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart(F) to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household(G) were baptized,(H) she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Footnotes
- Acts 16:12 The text and meaning of the Greek for the leading city of that district are uncertain.
Cross references
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Conversion of Lydia
11 So, setting sail from Troas, we (A)made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to (B)Philippi, which is a leading city of the[a] district of Macedonia and (C)a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And (D)on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate (E)to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we (F)sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, (G)who was a worshiper of God. The Lord (H)opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, (I)and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she (J)prevailed upon us.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 16:12 Or that
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Philippi--European soil (11-12)
Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke left Asia Minor and entered Europe. It was a momentous event which would change the course of world history. They crossed the Aegean Sea, touched the island of Samothrace, then landed at Neapolis, the port city of Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. There was no Jewish synagogue in Philippi. On the Sabbath, Paul and his companions went down to the riverside to look for a place of prayer. They found some women gathered there, so they spoke to them about Jesus.
2. Lydia, the open door to Europe (13-15)
Lydia was a Gentile business woman. She was spiritually thirsty, and she worshiped a God whom she did not know. When she heard the gospel from Paul, the Lord opened her heart. She accepted Jesus, and she and her household were baptized, making a clear commitment to Jesus and a proclamation before the world that she and her family were Christians. Her home became a house church.
Prayer: Lord, raise up a Lydia of faith and prayer in every country of the world.
One Word: The Lord opened her heart
