Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke found a ship in the harbor of Troas and set sail for Macedonia. They sailed to Samothrace on the first day and then to Neapolis on the next day. From there they went to Philippi.
Philippi was a leading city of Macedonia.
When Philip of Macedon took control of it in AD. 356, he named it Philippi
after himself. It was later made a colony by the Romans. Paul and his team arrived
and stayed there for some days.
Apparently there was no synagogue in
Philippi, likely because of the Romans dislike for Jewish custom, or due to a
lack of Jews in the city. Ten male Jews were required to start a synagogue. However,
there was a place of prayer outside the city by the river. This place of prayer was by the river for the
purpose of ceremonial washing.
Finding the place on that Sabbath, Paul
and his team went there for worship. A group of women were also assembled there
regularly. They then sat down and spoke to
the women. Here a woman by the name of Lydia, a worshipper of God who was
opened to hear the Gospel. And she responded to Paul’s sharing and became a
believer in Christ. Verse 15 implied that her household were also converted,
for they were all baptized.
Lydia, a dealer in purple fabrics, came
from the city of Thyatira, a city known for manufacturing of textiles. She was
obviously well to do and had a big house. So she invited Paul and his team to stay
in her house. With her urging, the team of missionaries relented and stayed
there. And this place would likely be the venue of the new congregation soon.
The changed attitude of a person could
literally be seen when touched by the grace of God. It’s been said that where
there’s an open heart there will be an open home. This was true in Lydia’s case.
She not only opened her heart to the Lord, she also opened her home to the
missionaries. She was hospitable and generous towards God’s people. Let’s learn
to be a Lydia, hospitable and generous.
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