WOMEN IN THE WORD: LYDIA

The first church that the Apostle Paul founded in Europe was in the Greek city of Philippi. Paul’s first convert in Europe was Lydia. “Firsts” are important.

Years later, from his prison in Rome, Paul addressed a letter to his beloved church at Philippi. Lydia and her church family had supported Paul’s ministry long after he left them to continue planting other churches. “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3–5). “You Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone” (Philippians 4:15). Paul loved the Philippians!

So, who was Lydia?

From the Asia city of Thyatira, Lydia was a successful businesswoman trading in expensive purple cloth (Acts 16:14). More importantly, she was “a God-fearing woman” who “opened her heart” to the truth of the Paul’s Gospel preaching (Acts 16:14).

In an Emperor-worshipping pagan city, Lydia wasn’t shy about her new-found faith. She was baptized, boldly and publicly testifying of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. Afterward, Lydia hospitably opened her home to the missionaries who made it their base of operation in Philippi (Acts 16:15). After Paul and Silas were arrested for preaching the Gospel, and after they were miraculously rescued and released, they returned to Lydia’s home (Acts 16:40).

When Paul and his entourage left Philippi, they left behind a fledgling but flourishing church. I wonder how different the story would have been had Lydia rebuffed the missionaries, refused God’s grace, and rejected the Gospel. Thankfully, she didn’t rebuff, refuse, or reject.

Lydia, Paul’s first convert in Europe, led the way in establishing the history-changing church in Philippi! She must have been quite a lady! Praise God!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).