Who Was Lydia?
The businesswoman whose open home served the gospel.
Lydia was from Thyatira and sold purple cloth, an expensive product connected with wealth and status. She lived in Philippi, a leading Roman city in Macedonia, and worshiped God. On the Sabbath, she gathered with women at a place of prayer beside the river. Paul and his team spoke there, and the Lord opened Lydia’s heart to respond to the message. She and her household were baptized. Lydia then persuaded the missionaries to stay in her home. After Paul and Silas were released from prison, they returned to Lydia’s house, where they encouraged the believers before leaving.