After paul and silas began pauls second preaching trip, they came to lystra where they found a young man named timothy who joined them on. Later we know that lydias house had become a meeting place. Her trade was in demand by the rich and influential in the city. Theyre real and theyre diverse household servants, tradeswomen, business leaders, intellectuals and theyre essential to the churchs. Lydia was a business woman who made and sold the expensive purple fabric, but she was also a worshiper of god. Lydia, woman of philippi, is the first book ive read by diana wallis taylor. Because the lord opened her heart, it produced results in her life, in her family and in philippi that.
We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. Lydia or even more simply the woman of purple, lydia is given other titles. Lydias conversion sermon by ron freeman, evangelist, acts. The lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by paul. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. She meets paul, the evangelist, who is traveling with silas, during what is referred to as pauls second mission journey. But what a great impact was made by her encounter with the word of god at a humble river side prayer meeting. Luke, the author of acts, called lydia a seller of purple goods. Acts 16 new international version niv timothy joins paul and silas. We learn in acts 16 that, while born and reared to. These werent lydias first words to the apostle paul.
Her story is told in the new testament book of acts, chapter 16. These women are not the stuff of sunday school picture books. Study 9 lydia of thyatira words of life ministries. The book of acts is peppered with stories of women that wouldve raised eyebrows in the 1st century and might still today. Because the lord opened her heart, it produced results in her life, in her family and in philippi that neither paul nor lydia could ever have imagined. Click here for an overview of the book of acts up until this point in his 2nd missionary journey paul had struggled to find a firm direction for his mission work. Yet lydia is not some bystander who just happens to be mentioned in the book of actsshe is a woman of extreme importance in the life of the early churcha woman for whom everything changed with the spirit of god being poured out upon her. Lydia is introduced in the book of acts, chapter 16 when she meets the apostle paul during his trip to europe with silas and other disciples of jesus. God rerouted paul and friends and also ensured that lydia would be in the right place at the right time to encounter paul and hear the good news of jesus. He and silas, a christian from jerusalem, had visited derbe and lystra to follow up on the churches paul had established there on the 1st journey in lysra paul invited timothy to join his group and then luke. Lydias story is found in the bible in the book of acts. Luke wrote his gospel and also the book of acts compare luke 1. A better title for this book is the acts of the holy spirit and because of this the book of acts is an unfinished book. The name, lydia, meaning the lydian woman, by which she was known indicates that she was from lydia in asia minor.
In some cases they were led ahead and in some cases they were hindered and even prevented. One of those listening was a woman from the city of thyatira named lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a seller of purple from the city of thyatira, who worshiped god. The woman, lydia, was a faithful, godly woman who opened her home to those who needed shelter. Nothing more is mentioned in the bible about lydia after acts 16. Who was the seller of purple in the book of acts answers. Lydias conversion in philippi on the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. Lydia s story is found in the bible in the book of acts. Lydia and the place of prayer at philippi marg mowczko. If you want to know more about the churches that paul started, read the book of. The story of lydia in the bible is a great example of gods providence and his care for believers. Undesigned coincidences in the gospels and acts revives an argument for the historical reliability of the new testament that has been largely neglected for more than a hundred years. Then you can be like lydia and share your happiness in jesus with your friends and family. He and silas, a christian from jerusalem, had visited derbe and lystra to follow up on the churches paul had established there on the 1st journey.
There was only one convert at first, a woman named lydia. The book of acts records ten case examples of conversion. For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in acts. As paul was the first recorded gospel p reacher on euro pean soil, so lydia was the first recorded convert there. The story of lydias conversion is contained in two verses only acts 16. Lydia, dorcas and phoebe, coworkers with the apostles. The woman, lydia, was a faithful, godly woman who opened her. Study 1 going through the book of acts words of life. Acts of the apostles niv audio bible non dramatized youtube.
One of the best reasons to study acts is to take note of the examples of conversion. The lord opened her heart to respond to pauls message. She was originally from the city of thyatira, in the roman province of. The city so named, now known as akhissar, was in the roman province of asia, but came within the boundaries of the older kingdom of lydia, and it is probable that, like so many slaves and women of the libertin. When paul and silas were released from a roman prison, they went to her house where they met with and encouraged believers. A model of service and hospitality acts 16 lifeway. Lydia seller of purple cloth bible character study. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit. Lydia was a dealer in purple cloth and so she probably would have been a wealthy and well known person in the city of. Lydia reading acts some thoughts on the book of acts. Acts 16, new international version niv the bible app.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The businesswoman lydia acts 16 article theology of work. Acts 16 niv timothy joins paul and silas paul bible. May 20, 2018 yet lydia is not some bystander who just happens to be mentioned in the book of actsshe is a woman of extreme importance in the life of the early churcha woman for whom everything changed with the spirit of god being poured out upon her. Later we know that lydia s house had become a meeting place. Lydia home association was named after a woman in the bible recorded in the book of acts. Seller of purple in the book of acts god opened lydias heart and she opened her home to the church. An undesigned coincidence is an apparently casual, yet puzzlelike fit between two or more texts, and its best explanation is that the authors knew the truth about the events they.
Im sure that i would have liked lydia if i had lived back then and i cant wait to meet her one day when i join other believers in the kingdom of heaven. Lydia and her household were baptized, immediately, and then she begged paul, silas, timothy and luke to go to her house to stay. An undesigned coincidence is an apparently casual, yet puzzlelike fit between two or more texts, and its best explanation is that the. Lydia might be the first person in europe to convert to christianity. Undesigned coincidences in the gospels and acts kindle edition by mcgrew, lydia, keener, craig. As a seller of rare and expensive purple dye, lydia must have had enough wealth to buy into that franchise. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading hidden in plain view. If you want to know more about the churches that paul started, read the book of acts in the new testament part of your bible. Lydia of thyatira was a seller of purple cloth and is a woman introduced in the new.
The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. The conversion of lydia walking thru the bible acts. After paul and silas began pauls second preaching trip, they came to lystra where they found a young man named timothy who joined them on their journey. And when she and her whole household were baptised, it was in lydias home that the first christian church in europe started by paul held its meetings acts 16. Theyre real and theyre diverse household servants, tradeswomen, business leaders, intellectuals. She was originally from the city of thyatira, in the roman province of asia, across. What will be abundantly clear is that her obedience to the gospel. There are several reasons the story of lydia is important in acts, but also as a point of application when reading the book of acts. The businesswoman lydia acts 16 article produced by tow project our first story is about a woman in the northwest turkish town of thyatira, known for its guilds of craftsmen, especially the guild of the professionals knowledgeable in the production and sale of expensive purple dye. Acts 16 niv timothy joins paul and silas paul bible gateway.
We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers 3. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. Lydia was a worshiper of god but, like cornelius in acts 10, had not yet heard the gospel. Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of acts e. Paul and his company go down to the riverside on the sabbath ac 16. Up until this point in his 2nd missionary journey paul had struggled to find a firm direction for his mission work. We know she was from thyatira, a city known for burnished bronze and brass, and purple cloth. Shes described as a dealer in purple from thyatira, a. His first european convert was a woman named lydia, a merchant who dealt in purpledyed goods. This may be an indication that whoever recorded her story was with paul in philippi, was an eye witness, and met lydia personally. In our lesson today we are going to be discussing the theme. Like the members of the jerusalem church selling property to support community, lydia opens her home and apparently hosts the growing church at philippi.
Sardis and ephesus, like lydias home town of thyatira, were part of the roman. The city so named, now known as akhissar, was in the roman province of asia, but came within the boundaries of the older kingdom of lydia, and it is probable that, like so many slaves and women of the libertinae class, she took her name from her country. A dealer of purple cloth, she mingled with the wealthy of her day. The book of acts is a revelation from god of his will for the church through the inspired activities of firstcentury christians. Jan 02, 2020 the story of lydia in the bible is a great example of gods providence and his care for believers. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there. Summarize all we know in these few verses about lydia. When paul on his second missionary journey carried his preaching out of asia and into europe, he began at the city of philippi in macedonia north of greece. Dec 10, 2012 lydia and her household were baptized, immediately, and then she begged paul, silas, timothy and luke to go to her house to stay. Pauls custom was to find a synagogue on the sabbath ac. Seller of purple in the book of acts learn religions.
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