Bible Characters · Early Church
Lydia
The seller of purple cloth from Thyatira whom Paul found worshipping at the riverside in Philippi, whose heart the Lord opened to his message, and whose house became the meeting place of the first church in Europe.
The facts, as Scripture gives them
- Lived
- Dates not given in Scripture.
- Region
- From the city of Thyatira, living at Philippi in Macedonia. (Acts 16:14-15)
- Work
- A dealer in purple cloth. (Acts 16:14)
- Standing
- A worshiper of God, before she heard Paul and was baptised. (Acts 16:14)
Key verses
Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
Acts 16:14 (BSB)
And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:15 (BSB)
What they did
- Was among the women gathered at the place of prayer outside Philippi's gate on the Sabbath, and listened to Paul. (Acts 16:13-14)
- The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message, and she was baptised with her household. (Acts 16:14-15)
- Pressed her invitation on the missionaries: if you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house; and she persuaded them. (Acts 16:15)
- After Paul and Silas came out of prison, they went to her house, where they met and encouraged the brothers. (Acts 16:40)
Connected to
- Paul: The apostle whose message the Lord opened her heart to receive, and whom she hosted (Acts 16:14-15)
Mentioned in
Acts.
Every reference (2)
Acts 16:14 · Acts 16:40
Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend profile passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This profile is in that queue. Sources: Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain), verified verse by verse. Name and reference data: STEP Bible (TIPNR), Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0.