Lydia
A businesswoman by a river in Philippi whose heart the Lord opened.
New Testament · 1st century · Acts · Also known as Seller of purple, Lydia of Thyatira
About Lydia
Lydia was "a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira," living in Philippi, and a worshipper of God. On the Sabbath she was among the women gathered by the river for prayer when Paul and his companions sat down and spoke to them. "The Lord opened" her heart, and she and her household were baptised. She insisted they stay at her house: "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there." After Paul and Silas were freed from prison, they went to Lydia’s house to encourage the believers.
Purple dye was costly, so Lydia was probably a woman of some means. Philippi was a Roman colony in Macedonia; in Acts’ account she is the first named person to believe in Jesus in Europe. Her home seems to have become the church’s meeting place.
The story
By a river side
"On the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither."
Acts 16:13
Whose heart the Lord opened
"And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul."
Acts 16:14
She constrained us
She was baptised with her household, then said, "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us." After an earthquake freed Paul and Silas from prison, "they… entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed."
Acts 16:15; 16:40
Key moments
- Prays by the river: On the Sabbath. (Acts 16:13)
- Her heart is opened: By the Lord. (Acts 16:14)
- Baptised with her household: In Philippi. (Acts 16:15)
- Welcomes the missionaries: "She constrained us." (Acts 16:15)
- Hosts the believers: After the prison earthquake. (Acts 16:40)
Questions about Lydia
In meetBible these answers are given in Lydia’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
What does "whose heart the Lord opened" mean?
Acts says I already "worshipped God," and I was listening to Paul, but it credits my believing to the Lord: "whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul." Christians have understood this in different ways, but all see God at work, not only Paul’s persuasion.
What is a seller of purple?
I traded in purple dye or purple cloth. Acts calls me "a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira," a city famous for dyeing. Purple was costly and associated with wealth and royalty, and I had a house large enough to host Paul’s whole group. Acts doesn’t give more detail about my business.
Why did you insist they stay at your house?
After my household was baptised I said, "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us." Hospitality was a way to show my new faith was real. Later, after prison, Paul and Silas came back to my house, where the believers had gathered.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Acts 16:11-15, 40.