Who was Lydia in the Bible?

A disciple of Thyatira — a place noted for its dyes — a seller of purple, residing at Philippi, whose heart the Lord opened, and who became, as far as is known, the first convert in Europe. She received Paul, Silas, and Luke into her house. Acts 16:14, 40.

One woman is singled out for notice. Her name is Lydia, a seller of purple, evidently a person with a lucrative business, perhaps a widow, for she was the head of a household. The Lord opened her heart. How encouraging this is! Before Paul came, she was known as one that worshipped God. May there not be many seekers after light that God takes note of in places where the pure gospel has not yet penetrated? The first name of a European convert was that of a woman, peacefully employed in her lawful calling, yet having a fear of God in her heart and seeking light.

One woman is specially singled out for notice, Lydia, a seller of purple, a native of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God. The Lord opened her heart, and she attended to the things that Paul spoke. She and her household were baptized, and she opened her house to Paul and received him as an honoured guest.

Since there was apparently no synagogue in the city of Philippi, Paul and his company took advantage of what opportunity they could for announcing the gospel. Hearing of a women's prayer meeting by the riverside taking place on the Sabbath, they went out and sat down among the women and spoke to them of the Lord Jesus. At least one woman responded favorably, her heart being opened by the Lord. Lydia had come from Thyatira in Asia Minor, a seller of purple, possibly connected with "a guild of dyers" mentioned on inscriptions from that period in Thyatira. She worshiped God, likely indicating her to be a proselyte of Judaism.

There was one soul that the Lord had prepared. ‘And a certain woman, by name Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard; whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things spoken by Paul’ (v. 14). Lydia, the first convert in Europe (as far as we know), was very likely not a Jew but a proselyte, a Gentile woman who worshipped the God of Israel. She came from Thyatira. What a contrast to the other woman from that city mentioned in the Bible: Jezebel (Rev. 2:18, 21)! The Lord opened Lydia’s heart — something only He can do. She seemed to be just waiting for the gospel message and accepted it in simple faith, and not only her but also her household. As she was obviously a wealthy woman this may have included servants as well. Later her house was also the gathering place of the believers.

The work began in the heart of Lydia, which was opened of God. The words, "which worshipped God," indicate that she was a seeker, and had become a proselyte, and now in the Gospel which Paul preached she found the full thing which she sought. The work was quiet but very real, for she was baptized and her household, and she at once identified herself with the Lord's servants by opening her house to them.

Although the audience was small a mighty work of God was wrought there on that day. The Lord opened the heart of Lydia to attend "unto the things which were spoken of Paul." She belonged to Thyatira, and, as it is expressly said that she was a seller of purple, it is probable that she was in Philippi for the purposes of her business. That she was a proselyte is shown by the statement that she "worshipped God;" whether, like Cornelius, she had been already born again cannot now be ascertained, but it is certain that while listening to the message of Paul the Spirit of God wrought with the glad tidings of grace, and produced faith in her soul, and so completely was she converted that she desired at once to avow her faith in Christ, and "she was baptized and her household." She moreover identified herself with the messengers of blessing to her soul by constraining them to accept her hospitality during their stay in the city. One soul had been thus won for Christ, and if the work during this first visit of the apostle did not assume large proportions, it was yet so thorough that it became the foundation of an assembly which, as to its spiritual state, was surpassed by none of which we have record in the New Testament. As the stability of a house depends much upon its foundations, so the character of an assembly is often derived from the nature of its commencement.

Of one woman we are now to read, Lydia her name, from the city of Thyatira, in the province of Lydia in Asia Minor. She "heard us," said Luke; and the Lord opened her heart to attend unto the things spoken by Paul. The change in her was real, and soon effected. And baptised, she and her household, she offered hospitality to Paul and to his company. Engaged in business, a seller of purple, she was a woman of means. She would not be denied. "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord," were her words, "come into my house, and abide there." She meant what she said. "She constrained us," writes Luke (16:15). Her house became the sojourn-place of that little company of four, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke. There was now one Christian household at least in the city of Philippi. Divine guidance was marked. A resting-place for those labourers was thus unexpectedly opened out. That day's converse with the women at the prayer-house outside the city was destined to produce many and important results. Blessing came to Lydia, a home was found ready for Paul, etc.; and encouragement surely they must all have felt. One step led to another. But they were content to take one step at a time. In the work of God how often may that be necessary. Of Divine guidance Lydia could also surely speak. A native of Thyatira, but resident at Philippi for the prosecution of her trade, she could now see God's hand in leading her to that city. She was brought thither to hear and to receive the Gospel, and to have the honour of entertaining servants of Christ. The Apostle and his companions lived under her roof. How many, surely, reviewing their path can speak of the way God has led them. Far away was Lydia's native city. Led forth from it for secular work, she found that God's eye had been on her, and His hand had guided her, and now His voice she had heard in the depths of her soul, ministering salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

"They sat down, and spake to the women." Here there was a simple colloquial unfolding of the truth. No doubt, that is what took place, and what was the result? "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 to the things which were spoken of Paul" (ver. 14). This earnest woman had her heart opened. It is a great thing when the heart is opened: what do you think takes place when the heart is opened? The Lord gets His right place there. "And when she was baptized" — she publicly owned the Lord — "and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there; and she constrained us" (ver. 15). Well done, Lydia! There is a nice woman for you. She is not afraid to identify herself with the Lord. She is the first in Europe to do so. I believe, in Lydia you have the first convert to Christ, in Europe. She identifies herself with the Lord's servants. First of all, her heart is opened, and then the next thing is her house is opened. Is your house used for the Lord? If so, it is a very happy thing. If you do not use your house for the Lord, even though it be but one room or two, I do not think He has got a very big place in your heart. What can I do? You can take in some servant of the Lord — not necessarily to stop with you — nor does it imply that you require to be able to extend hospitality. The thought is this: I mean to identify myself thoroughly with the work of the Lord. Lydia was a genuine woman: would that every man who hears me were as earnest and real.

Lydia is an example of a godly woman (Acts 16:12-15, 40). She may have been the first to convert in Philippi. She then persuaded her entire household to trust in Christ. After believing, she invited Paul and his companions to stay as guests in her house. The Bible says, "And she constrained us." Thus, it appears that the assembly in Philippi began in Lydia's house. In Acts 16:40, we see that when they were released from prison, Paul and Silas went to Lydia's house and there they exhorted or comforted the brothers.