Acts 16:11-15

Macedonia, part 1

 

Therefore putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis; and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

 

Since Scripture points out that Paul and his companions travelled to Macedonia specifically because God directed them to do so through Paul’s vision, I think it’s worth noting the things that happened in Macedonia.

 

It only took 2-3 days after the vision for Paul and his companions to arrive in Philippi, a leading Macedonian city. It was in Philippi that they met Lydia.

 

I think it is worth pointing out how they met her. They met her by trying to find a place of prayer. Often, we do our witnessing by looking for people who don’t care about worshiping God. Paul and his companions deliberately looked for people who were trying to worship God. Their aim was to help these people learn how to worship God rightly, recognizing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Lydia was one of these people, a woman who had gathered near a riverside for prayer.

 

Paul spoke. The Lord opened the heart of this God-worshiper, and she responded. She and her household were baptized. Again, I think that’s important to notice. Lydia wasn’t alone. She probably wasn’t a single woman. I’m not sure why this passage of Scripture points out that Paul and his companions spoke specifically with a group of women; perhaps they were there without their families, or perhaps they were the most responsive group that day. Lydia may have responded and then gone and persuaded her family to come hear Paul’s words, too. These women, and this Lydia in particular, were pivotal in the events of the day. But they were not alone, at least not by the end of the day. We know at least that Lydia’s household heard and believed the good news. They were all baptized!

 

There was an immediate sense of family. Lydia understood that she was now linked through Jesus Christ to Paul and his companions. They were united by Christ, these Macedonians and these Jews. Lydia urged them to stay at her house (presumably with her whole family), and because Paul and his companions now knew Lydia to be joined to them by Christ, they accepted.

 

Father, thank You for calling Paul and the rest of them to Macedonia through a vision. Your work is evident. You opened Lydia’s heart to respond to the good news, and her household was saved from judgment along with her. You also demonstrated again that You are the Great Uniter. People who before would not have associated with each other for anything other than business are now treating each other like family. The wall of hostility between them has been abolished, replaced by unity through the same Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank You that Your guidance is always good, always faithful, always trustworthy, always effective in accomplishing Your purposes. Thank You for this example You gave us in Philippi.