The Message finds Europe - Acts 16

¹¹ From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. ¹² From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

Philippi – Phillipians; Galatia – Galatians; Timothy; We’re seeing Paul visit the places and meet the people where he will write the letters make up part of the book we know as the New Testament.  These are Roman colonies.  That is, the majority of the people are Romans, not another heritage that is being ruled by Romans.  They speak Latin. 

¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. ¹⁵ When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

I find Luke’s writing interesting.  He has changed his tense in his text and is using personal pronouns.  This happens several times in this book.  There is “we” and “us” in the writings.  Maybe he copied these parts from written testimony from Paul, Timothy, or Silas.  Most scholars believe that Luke has joined them on this portion of the journey.

Thyatira is one of the seven churches referenced in Revelations.  The “man from Macedonia” referenced from Paul’s vision in verse 9 is actually a woman named Lydia.  She is obviously a leader and is leading a prayer group.  She is the first person saved in Europe.

This passage shows that they preached and taught the gospel wherever they went, even at a city gate.  And they were effective at it.  Purple cloth was important in these times and was often used to signify royalty.  Therefore, Lydia is likely affluent.

Jesus taught that if you search with all your heart you will find.  Lydia has gathered a group of women and is praying and seeking God.  God answers with the Gospel message.  She finds salvation and is baptized along with her household.  God has answered her call abundantly.  If we will seek God with all our heart we will find Him.  He will present Himself to us.  We must be sure to pray that our hearts are ready for Him.