Lydia

Biblical Account

Lydia appears in Acts 16:11–15 and 16:40. During his second missionary journey, Paul saw a vision of a man of Macedonia pleading for help (Acts 16:9–10). He then traveled to Philippi, in the region of Macedonia. On the Sabbath, Paul and his companions went outside the city gate to a riverside, looking for a place of prayer, and spoke to the women gathered there. Lydia was one of them.

The text introduces Lydia in three ways:

• She came from the city of Thyatira (in western Asia Minor).
• She was a seller of purple cloth.
• She "worshipped God."

Acts records that the Lord opened her heart, "that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul" (Acts 16:14). Lydia was baptized together with her household. She then urged Paul and his companions to stay at her house (Acts 16:15). Later, after their release from prison, Paul and Silas went to Lydia's house, where they saw and comforted the brethren before leaving the city (Acts 16:40).

Significance in Scripture

Lydia is commonly described as the first convert in Europe recorded in the Book of Acts. In Acts 16:40 her house appears as a gathering place for the believers in Philippi, and for this reason it is regarded as the starting point of the Philippian church. Lydia's name, however, does not appear in Philippians, the letter Paul later wrote to the church at Philippi.

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• "Worshipped God": Scholars generally take this expression to refer to a non-Jew who worshiped the God of Israel. Such people are often called "God-fearers."
• Name: Opinions differ on whether "Lydia" was a personal name or an epithet meaning a woman from Lydia, the region in which Thyatira was located.
• Household baptism: Denominations that practice infant baptism, such as Presbyterians and Methodists, cite the baptism of the "households" of Lydia and the Philippian jailer as one piece of supporting evidence. Baptists and others point out that the text does not mention any infants being present. This debate is covered in the infant baptism controversy.
• What the text does not say: Scripture does not state that Lydia was a widow or that she was very wealthy; such ideas are merely inferences drawn from the fact that purple cloth was an expensive commodity. Her hometown of Thyatira appears in Revelation 2 as the home of one of the seven churches, but no record directly connects Lydia with that church.
• The fact that Lydia's house served as a meeting place is frequently mentioned in discussions of women's roles in the church. Interpretations differ on whether this should be understood as a leadership role or as an expression of service and hospitality.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, many sermons cite the phrase "the Lord opened her heart" to explain the attitude one should have toward hearing the Word and the nature of conversion. Lydia is also frequently cited as an example of hospitality and service because she welcomed Paul and his companions into her home. Some churches use the name "Lydia" for women's mission societies or small groups.