Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 16:14

"And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul." — Acts 16:14 (ASV)

One of the women was from Thyatira, a city of western Asia Minor. It had been part of the ancient kingdom of Lydia before its incorporation into the Roman province of Asia; hence the woman was called Lydia (or, perhaps, “the Lydian lady”). Thyatira was famous for making purple dyes and for dyeing clothes—industries that were mostly carried on by women at home. Lydia had come to Philippi to carry on her trade. She was a “God-fearer,” having doubtless received instruction at a synagogue in her native Thyatira. She was likely either a widow or unmarried, and some of the women gathered for worship were relatives and servants living in her home. As she listened, God opened her heart to the Christian message and “she and the members of her household were baptized.” Then she urged the missionary party to stay at her home, which they did.

From such small beginnings the church at Philippi began. To judge from his letter to the Philippians, it was one of Paul’s most-loved congregations. Luke, as suggested above, was probably involved in the establishment and growth of this church. Soon, it seems, Lydia’s home became the center for Christian outreach and worship in Philippi (cf. 16:40).