Act 16:13 | KingComments | STEP | From Troas in Asia the company sailed to Samothrace, a little higher up in Asia. From there they made the crossing to Macedonia in Europe, where they landed in Neapolis. From Neapolis they go on foot to Philippi, the most important city of that part of Macedonia, twenty kilometers away. Before there is any activity in connection with the gospel, Paul and his companions spend some days in the city. In this way they can get to know the people of the city. It is important to show interest in the people first in order to be able to bring them the gospel afterward. Philippi is a Roman colony, i.e. an area where the citizens have the same rights as in the cities in Italy. In Philippi you can imagine yourself as if you were in Rome. It is just like in Rome. The people in Philippi live as Romans under the authority of Rome. Paul will point out in the letter he later writes to the believers in this city that believers in the world also live in such a way. Just as the inhabitants of Philippi live as Romans in a strange environment, so believers live as citizens of heaven on earth by the standards of heaven surrounded by a world of which they are not a part ( ). When they get to know the city, they will also have come to the conclusion that there was no synagogue, but there is a place of prayer. It seems that a place of prayer was common when there was no synagogue. In this really Roman city it is not obvious that there would be a synagogue. According to tradition at least ten Jews are needed for a synagogue, based on the prayer of Abraham for Sodom in which he goes down to ten righteous people ( ). Paul searches for the place of prayer in order to preach the gospel to the Jews here as well. When the Sabbath has come, they go to the place of which they have come to the assumption that people come together there to pray. When they get there, they see that women have come together. Paul and his companions sit with them. In that attitude of rest they speak to the women. In the reaction of the women and especially Lydia we see that God is already working in Philippi. In His time He brings Paul there to complete His work in the hearts. That a church is also coming into being that is characterized by love and care as is shown in the letter that Paul writes to them later, Luke does not speak about that here. Lydia is probably a Greek converted to Judaism. She no longer worships the multitude of idols of the Roman Empire, but the one God of the Jews. She comes originally from Thyatira, which was known for its dyeing of fabrics. Lydia trades in these in Philippi. While Paul speaks – so there is more a kind of conversation than a formal preaching – Lydia listens. Then the Lord opens her heart, through which she gives heed to what Paul has spoken. She takes God’s Word to heart, she accepts in faith what God says. Here we see the two sides of the truth that we find throughout the Bible. On the one hand we see Lydia who listens, and on the other hand the Lord opens her heart so that she accepts what has been said. This is also how it works in our lives as believers. We go to a meeting to listen to the Word and at the same time we pray that the Word will do its work in us. After her conversion, she is baptized immediately, which indicates that Paul will also have spoken about this. Not only she is being baptized, but also her household, i.e. all those who belong to it. Salvation is an individual matter. No one is saved because someone else is a believer. Children are not saved because the parents are believers. Every person must personally turn to God and believe in the Lord Jesus. At the same time it is God’s purpose to save not only persons, but households or families. We also find this in Scripture. God already told Noah that he had to prepare an ark to save his household ( ). God gives parents a great responsibility to bring their children up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord ( ). On the other hand, God’s grace is that when parents do so, He connects His promise to save the children. For this the children themselves will have to come to repentance and faith. Where people are head of a family, they bring the whole family into the sphere of the Word of God. When Lydia is baptized and her household, she urges Paul to stay with her for some time. In doing so, she appeals to her faithfulness to the Lord. Everything shows that she worships God. Her baptism proves that she wants to be obedient. Her hospitality proves that she has new life and wants to experience the new relationships that now exist as children of God. She will gladly have heard more about the Lord Jesus and His work.

‏ Acts 16:13

Conversion of Lydia

From Troas in Asia the company sailed to Samothrace, a little higher up in Asia. From there they made the crossing to Macedonia in Europe, where they landed in Neapolis. From Neapolis they go on foot to Philippi, the most important city of that part of Macedonia, twenty kilometers away.

Before there is any activity in connection with the gospel, Paul and his companions spend some days in the city. In this way they can get to know the people of the city. It is important to show interest in the people first in order to be able to bring them the gospel afterward.

Philippi is a Roman colony, i.e. an area where the citizens have the same rights as in the cities in Italy. In Philippi you can imagine yourself as if you were in Rome. It is just like in Rome. The people in Philippi live as Romans under the authority of Rome. Paul will point out in the letter he later writes to the believers in this city that believers in the world also live in such a way. Just as the inhabitants of Philippi live as Romans in a strange environment, so believers live as citizens of heaven on earth by the standards of heaven surrounded by a world of which they are not a part (Phil 3:20).

When they get to know the city, they will also have come to the conclusion that there was no synagogue, but there is a place of prayer. It seems that a place of prayer was common when there was no synagogue. In this really Roman city it is not obvious that there would be a synagogue. According to tradition at least ten Jews are needed for a synagogue, based on the prayer of Abraham for Sodom in which he goes down to ten righteous people (Gen 18:32).

Paul searches for the place of prayer in order to preach the gospel to the Jews here as well. When the Sabbath has come, they go to the place of which they have come to the assumption that people come together there to pray. When they get there, they see that women have come together. Paul and his companions sit with them. In that attitude of rest they speak to the women.

In the reaction of the women and especially Lydia we see that God is already working in Philippi. In His time He brings Paul there to complete His work in the hearts. That a church is also coming into being that is characterized by love and care as is shown in the letter that Paul writes to them later, Luke does not speak about that here.

Lydia is probably a Greek converted to Judaism. She no longer worships the multitude of idols of the Roman Empire, but the one God of the Jews. She comes originally from Thyatira, which was known for its dyeing of fabrics. Lydia trades in these in Philippi. While Paul speaks – so there is more a kind of conversation than a formal preaching – Lydia listens. Then the Lord opens her heart, through which she gives heed to what Paul has spoken. She takes God’s Word to heart, she accepts in faith what God says.

Here we see the two sides of the truth that we find throughout the Bible. On the one hand we see Lydia who listens, and on the other hand the Lord opens her heart so that she accepts what has been said. This is also how it works in our lives as believers. We go to a meeting to listen to the Word and at the same time we pray that the Word will do its work in us.

After her conversion, she is baptized immediately, which indicates that Paul will also have spoken about this. Not only she is being baptized, but also her household, i.e. all those who belong to it. Salvation is an individual matter. No one is saved because someone else is a believer. Children are not saved because the parents are believers. Every person must personally turn to God and believe in the Lord Jesus.

At the same time it is God’s purpose to save not only persons, but households or families. We also find this in Scripture. God already told Noah that he had to prepare an ark to save his household (Heb 11:7). God gives parents a great responsibility to bring their children up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:4). On the other hand, God’s grace is that when parents do so, He connects His promise to save the children. For this the children themselves will have to come to repentance and faith. Where people are head of a family, they bring the whole family into the sphere of the Word of God.

When Lydia is baptized and her household, she urges Paul to stay with her for some time. In doing so, she appeals to her faithfulness to the Lord. Everything shows that she worships God. Her baptism proves that she wants to be obedient. Her hospitality proves that she has new life and wants to experience the new relationships that now exist as children of God. She will gladly have heard more about the Lord Jesus and His work.