Indiana Wesleyan University
Life/Faith New Testament
14:37:39 GMT -05:00
, Interpreting Acts 15-16
I chose for this writing Acts 16:11. In this section of the chapter, Lydia was introduced.
Lydia resided and ran her business in Philippi. Her dealings of purple dyed cloth made her
known throughout the reign as one that way wealthy and was able to live independently. Lydia
was a religious seeker. Though she was birthed a gentile, she believed in the God of the Jews. I
decided on this passage because Lydia fascinated me. A woman during this time that did not
seem married nor had a man to be known to, who owned her own business, and followed the
Lord had to have more than just average respect. I think she had more faith than most men of this
time just because of these circumstances.
“We sailed straight from Troas to Samothrace, and the next day we arrived in Neapolis.
From there we went to Philippi, which is a Roman colony in the first district of Macedonia. We
spent several days in Philippi. Then on the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to a place by
the river, where we thought there would be a Jewish meeting place for prayer. We sat down and
talked with the women who came. One of them was Lydia, who was from the city of Thyatira
and sold expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of the Lord God, and he made her willing
to accept what Paul was saying. Then after she and her family were baptized, she kept on
begging us, “If you think I really do have faith in the Lord, come stay in my home.” Finally, we
accepted her invitation.” (Acts 16:11-15 CEV https://bible.com/bible/392/act.16.11-15.CEV ).
This section details the cities that were traveled sharing the journey from Troas through
Samothrace, into Neapolis and then into Philippi where they were said to have been for several
days. The narrative in this reading was the describing background of the Roman world in the first
century. Throughout Acts including this chapter it shares the story about the developing of
Christianity. It is told what to do to receive salvation. Lydia is introduced in chapter 16:11-15.
14:37:39 GMT -05:00