One Woman Blessed Her Home

We [the Apostle Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke] boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who [already] worshiped God [or a worshiper of God or a God-fearing woman]. As she listened to us [the Apostle Paul‘s message], the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying [that Jesus is the Messiah and the Author of salvation]. She [Lydia] was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord [Jesus Christ],” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.

Acts 16:11-15 (NLT).

Lydia was a God-fearing woman the Apostle Paul met on his second missionary journey. She was a Gentile living in Philippi and a dealer in purple cloth. Purple cloth was valuable and expensive. Purples indicated nobility or royalty. Lydia, like Cornelius (see Acts 10:2) believed in the true God and followed the moral teachings of the Scripture but had not yet heard the full teachings of Jesus Christ. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the minds of Jesus’ disciples were opened to under the Scriptures (see Luke 24:44-45).

The Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey took him to Philippi. Philippi was a key city in the region of Macedonia (northern Greece today). In Philippi, the Apostle Paul met a small group of women by the river having prayer. He preached the Gospel of Jesus to these women, and Lydia, an influential and wealthy businessperson, believed in Jesus Christ. God opened Lydia’ heart to His Scriptures about His Son, Jesus Christ.

Lydia became the first person changed by Jesus Christ in Philippi. Through Lydia’s conversion and belief in Jesus Christ, her entire household was baptized and identified with Jesus Christ (see also Acts 16:32-33). Lydia’s home was now a Christian home and home for the Light of the World, Jesus Christ (John 9:5).

YOUR faith in Jesus Christ can change your home. Will you accept Jesus today?