The Book of Acts: Discipleship In Action Pt. 67 Obedience, Faithfulness and the First European Convert!

Obeying God's call to share the gospel.

Acts 16:11-12  Therefore leaving from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12)  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. 

Paul, Silas and Timothy swiftly complied with the Macedonian vision God gave to Paul. They boarded a ship and set sail for Macedonia. 

The words "came with a straight course" mean to run with the wind. Their ship sailed with favorable winds making the voyage faster. It is as if God blessed their obedience with swift and safe sailing. 

Paul obeyed the vision. If the Macedonians needed help, then they would go to Macedonia which is the northern and central parts of modern-day Greece. 

They sailed from Troas to Neapolis, stopping for the night on the island of Samothrace. From Neapolis, they continued on to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia (Acts 16:11–12). 

This area is still known as the gateway to Europe. Up to that point in history, the gospel had been limited to Asia. Many historians note that Paul’s obedience to the Macedonian Call, was key to the spread of Christianity into Europe and the Western world.

Philippi was the most important city in that region. It was also a Roman colony and the people were considered to be freemen with the rights of Roman citizens. 

Luke used the words "certain days" to alert us that something different is about to happen. Paul, Silas and Timothy waited a certain number of days, until the Sabbath day came. 

Photo of Philippi where Paul baptized new converts. 

Sharing the Word where people congregate.

Acts 16:13  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. 

The "proseucha" was a place designated by the Jews for  prayer, and worship, in cities where there was no synagogue. It was a large building with no roof. It has seats like an amphitheater. Buildings of this sort were usually located by the sea side, and by a river.

Paul used the time they spent waiting to find out where the Jews gathered on the Sabbath, so that they could attend and preach the gospel of Christ.

This text reminds us that often, women are more sensitive to God than men are. Many women ministered to Jesus while He lived among us. Many women were sensitive to God like Lois and Eunice, Timothy's mother and grandmother. 

Mothers are often more spiritual minded than husbands are, and they are used of God to establish Biblical morals and instill integrity in their children. 

We see evidence of this pattern when the apostles speak of the testimony of a godly wife, being used of God to reach their husband for Christ (See 1 Corinthians 7:13-16; 1 Peter 3:1-7). 

Paul spoke with the women who arrived early for the prayer service by the side of the river. These women had a pattern of gathering for a time of prayer, perhaps before any of the men arrived. 

A certain woman is the first European convert to Christ.

Acts 16:14 -15 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. 15)  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.  

Here is our word "certain" once again used to let us know about the woman named Lydia. This word always alerts us to something new or different happening. 

Lydia was a Gentile woman and a Jewish proselyte. What she knew of God she knew from the Jews and the scriptures that they read. 

First we are told that Lydia was a seller of purple from Thyatira, one of the 7 churches in Revelation. The water of ancient Thyatira was ideal for dying fabrics used to make various items of clothing. Purple cloth from Thyatira was in high demand and Lydia was a very successful seller of those products.

Spiritually, Thyatira like many other Gentile cities was infested with darkness and pagan cults. In spite of her background, Lydia worshiped God and converted to the Jewish religion. 

She heard the Word of God preached by Paul, Silas and Timothy and became the first European convert to Christ. This is why Luke applied the words "a certain woman" to Lydia.

She "worshipped" God which means that she cultivated a spirit of reverential fear of God that leads to wisdom (See Proverbs 1:7).

The Lord prepared her heart for this very moment of hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord opened her heart. 

What does this mean? The word "opened" means to cut something completely in half, so that the object is wide open to work on. It is like a butcher cutting a roast in half in order to package it for sale.

The Great Physician used the scalpel of scripture to open Lydia's heart. 

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

He opened the doors of her mind and soul and gave her a desire to learn the truth about salvation and being born again (See Luke 24:45).

The text from Hebrews best describes what God was doing in Lydia's heart, each time that the Jews read the scriptures in her presence. 

The word of God is living truth and is like a small dagger like sword that is sharper than a surgeon's scalpel. God does work in our hearts like a surgeon using a scalpel.

He shows us our thoughts and the intents or motivation of our heart. The scalpel of scripture lays bare our soul before us so we can see our desperate need of Jesus Christ and the new birth.  

The Lord Jesus opened her heart and mind to receive the truth and Lydia was very attentive to what they taught. She gave earnest energy to hearing and bringing it close in her mind and soul.

The word "attended" is a nautical term used in reference of a large ship being carefully maneuvered to the dock for unloading. 

Lydia heard scripture truth from the Jews when she attended prayer time. The idea communicated is that in her mind this truth is being pulled in to take root in her heart. Precious gospel cargo is about to be received and another soul saved for God's glory.

Lydia responded by exercising repentant faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know this? Because she requested to be baptized.

Baptism of repentance and new life begun.

Romans 6:3-4  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4)  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Baptism has been described as an outward sign of an inward change. This is a baptism for believers, those who have been regenerated by the Spirit of God. 

When we go down into the waters of baptism, we are identifying with the death of Christ on the cross for our sins. When we are raised out of the water, it is a picture of His resurrection and we believers will share in it one day.

Thus, we are to walk in newness of life or as Paul wrote to the Corinthians "old things are passed away; behold all things are made new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Notice that Lydia gathered all those of her household to accompany her on her journey to sell purple cloth. Lydia and all who were with her, responded to the gospel and were baptized.

This account is very similar to the salvation of Cornelius and his household.

Evidence of the newness of life is seen in the fact that Lydia immediately asked Paul and his companions to stay at her lodging place at her expense.  

Thoughts to Ponder...

Lydia was a woman of prayer. She sought to honor God to the best of her understanding in her business dealings. 

We need to be a people of prayer.

Lydia worshiped God. She saw the endless darkness of pagan practices and knew that there had to be a One, True God that she could have a relationship with.

We need to be those who worship God in Spirit and in truth.

Lydia was faithful to bring all those who traveled with her to hear Paul preach the gospel. She cared about their spiritual condition.

We need to be faithful to Christ and the gospel.

Lydia was ready to serve right away after her public confession of Christ and baptism. She had a consistent character of being ready to meet the needs of other believers.

We need to be ready and willing to serve Jesus Christ. 

Paul came to the place of worship, where he knew the Jews met. This encourages us to meet with our church families in order to worship, hear the Word and pray together. 

Paul was sensitive to the Spirit of God. The Lord is always at work preparing hearts and seeking to open them to receive the words of life. God uses believers like you and me to reach the lost sinners around us. 

I pray that each of us will see our need to live by the gospel. I pray that the Lord of glory will give us hearts that are open to His Word and sensitive to His Spirit working in us. I pray that God finds us faithful in loving and serving the King of kings. 

Bob