Where the Holy Spirit Leads

Acts 16:11-15

Having clear indication of God’s will, Paul and his associates, Including Silas, Timothy, Luke, and perhaps others, proceeded to take the most direct route possible to get there, stopping at the seaports of Samothracia and Neapolis on the way to Philippi.

“Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.” (Acts 16:11-12)

Philippi was the largest city in that region, and had a large complement of Greek speaking people. Because it was strategically located, there was also a large Roman colony. Because of the famines and political upheaval in Judea, a number of Jews had settled there as well.

“And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.” (Acts 16:13)

The Jewish contingent had not established a synagogue, but some of the women regularly met for prayer outside the city ay a particular place by the river. Since there was no synagogue, Paul and his associates went to the prayer meeting and spoke to the women who were there.

“And 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 unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, 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.” (Acts 16:14-15)

We are never told whether Lydia was Jewish or not, because it isn’t relevant. We do know that she was a “seller of purple,” a dealer of dyes and cloth which only the very rich could afford. Her clientele would have been the elite of the area, and she would have probably had contacts in distant cities as well, since the mollusks that produced the dye were only available in a few areas.

She was present at the meeting by the river because she worshipped God herself, and when she heard Paul speak, the Holy Spirit caused her to listen and understand what was being said. As a result she believed, and shared with her entire household, resulting in the entire family being saved and baptized.

Like the Shunamite woman of II Kings 4, Lydia was concerned that Paul and his company had a good place to stay, and because she had room, she invited them to stay at her house, if they thought she was devoted to the Lord. She prevailed and convinced them to do so.

Once again we see the Holy Spirit producing love in the heart of Christians. In Acts 2 and 4, we saw in the care for other Christians by the Spirit filled believers. We saw it again in the Church at Antioch’s sending relief for the Christians in Judea. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another,” in John 13:35. Like Cornelius, she also demonstrated a love for those around her, bringing he entire household to Christ. When the Holy Spirit is leading, the love flows naturally and does not need to be forced.

Years later, Paul and Timothy wrote to the church at Philippi to encourage them during a period when they could well have given up hope because of what they were hearing about Paul and the problems he was having.

As an interesting side note, Lydia was originally from the city of Thyatira. Years later, when the Lord instructed John to write to the seven churches in Asia in Revelation, the church at Thyatira was one of the churches addressed. It is likely that Lydia was influential in getting the church started.