Who was Lydia in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Lydia, a woman from Thyatira living in Philippi, was a seller of purple goods. Lydia encountered Paul and his companions by the riverside and embraced Jesus as the Messiah. She became a devout worshiper of God and became known for her hospitality. Lydia's life serves as a timeless example of how encountering the gospel can lead to a life marked by generosity, hospitality, and kindness that can have a profound impact on others.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Lydia is not mentioned in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Bible only mentions Lydia one time, in Acts 16:11–15. It reads: "So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The LORD opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the LORD, come to my house and stay.' And she prevailed upon us."
• From this passage, we learn a few things about Lydia. She was from Thyatira but living in Philippi.
• Lydia was a fabric merchant, "a seller of purple goods," and her hometown of Thyatira was notorious for its thriving indigo trade.
• Lydia is described as a worshiper of God and was observing the Sabbath at the riverside with other women on the day she heard the teachings of Paul, Timothy, Luke, and Silas. The fact that the women were gathered at the river rather than in a synagogue might indicate that there were not enough Jewish men to open a synagogue in Philippi.
• Upon hearing the apostles' teaching, Lydia put her faith in Jesus as the Messiah and was baptized.
• After she was baptized, Lydia hosted the missionaries at her home.
• Paul didn't intend to travel so far west, but the Lord changed his plans, and Lydia ended up being saved through this location shift (Acts 16:6–10).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Lydia's receptive heart was prepared to embrace Jesus and receive salvation. Following her salvation and baptism, Lydia wasted no time in extending hospitality to Paul and his companions, exemplifying the selfless service and generosity characteristic of a transformed life. Lydia's story shows the transformative power of faith and how one individual's ecounter with the gospel can impact their lives and others’. It also encourages us to put our faith into action, showing us that acts of kindness and hospitality leave an indelible mark on others, like Lydia’s did in the early Christian community. We, too, can leave a mark on others as we allow God to transform our hearts and lives by the power of His Spirit and the truth of His Word.

UNDERSTAND

• Lydia was a fabric merchant from Thyatira, living in Philippi.
• Lydia opened her heart to the message preached by Paul and put her faith in Jesus.
• Lydia's faith led to her baptism and prompted her to offer hospitality to Paul and his companions, hosting them in her home.

REFLECT

• How does Lydia's example challenge or give perspective to your understanding of hospitality and generosity in your own life?
• What barriers might you need to overcome to fully embrace the message of Jesus in your own heart?
• How can you emulate Lydia's wholehearted pursuit of faith and service in your daily interactions and relationships?

ENGAGE

• Lydia's conversion was the first recorded one in Europe. Later in the Bible, the book of Revelation mentions a church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18). There is no record of Paul or other apostles going to Thyatira, so it is possible that Lydia brought the gospel of Jesus Christ back to her hometown. However, there is no way for us to be certain of this.
• How does Lydia's story challenge common perceptions of who can be considered a follower of Jesus and the role of women in spreading the gospel message?
• What was the impact of Lydia's hospitality on the early Christian community, and how does her example challenge us to reconsider the role of generosity in our own communities today?