Paul’s second missionary journey was exactly that—a journey. It took him across the sea from Asia into Europe. Setting sail from Troas, he made the roughly 125-mile crossing to Neapolis in just two days, stopping overnight at the island of Samothrace. From Neapolis, Paul walked about ten miles inland to Philippi, traveling roughly 135 to 140 miles.
Philippi was a Roman colony, and only a few Jews seem to have lived there. On the Sabbath, Paul went outside the city gate to a riverside where he expected to find people gathered for prayer. There he met a group of women.
They may have chosen a place near water for prayer because water was needed for washing and ritual purity.
On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.
— Acts 16:13
A recurring theme in Luke and Acts is that prayer often comes before God reveals his purposes. This was true for the women gathered in prayer. When Paul arrived, God used him to reveal his plans for their lives.
A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.
— Acts 16:14
The Attraction of Judaism
Today, we often see religion as a source of morality and guidance for right living. That was not true in the first-century Roman Empire. Many people saw religion as corrupt, and they believed the gods were unpredictable. Religion was often more about superstition than moral teaching.
Philosophy was usually where people learned about ethics. Judaism was a notable exception. It was consistent and ethical, with principles that valued human life. Because of this, it appealed to many people who wanted a better way of life than Roman religion or philosophy offered.
God honored the devotion of Lydia and those with her by sending Paul to their gathering. There, Paul introduced them to the fulfillment of the Judaism they practiced. He probably connected Jesus to the story of Abraham, Moses, the sacrificial system, and the prophets. Jesus was God’s climax in the story of salvation.
The Role of Women
It is fair to say that women in the first century had few rights, but they were not without status. Lydia was a businesswoman, and as we read through the Book of Acts, we will meet other influential women. After she and her household were baptized, she offered Paul and his companions a place to stay while they were in Philippi.
When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.
— Acts 16:15
I expect the Holy Spirit revealed his will to Paul in many ways. One way may have been through experience. Paul met Lydia and the women with her, who were loving, caring, and faithful followers of the Lord. This experience solidified the unity they shared in the Savior.
There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
— Galatians 3:28
Reflections
God longs to work with us, but he is gentle. He does not force his way into our lives; instead, he stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:20). When we make room for him in prayer, we can expect him to meet us there and show us more of his will.
Lydia was already in that place of prayer when Paul arrived at the riverside. She was listening, and Scripture says “the Lord opened” her heart (Acts 16:14).
Paul, too, was in the right place, having followed God’s leading across the sea to the city. Their meeting was no accident. It happened because both of them were where God could reach them.
Lydia’s story invites us to be like her and like Paul. Let’s seek out our own riverside, a place and time set apart for prayer, where God can speak freely and work in our lives.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Acts 16:11–15 on YouTube today.
