Lydia—The Woman of Purple

I’ve long been intrigued by Lydia of the Bible. When I taught preschool Sunday School years ago, the story of the “Woman of Purple” was one of the recurring units we taught our five-year-olds. What fun we had creating art collages made from different shades of purple fabric scraps.

A favorite stop on my recent “Footsteps of Paul” journey was Philippi. This is where Paul and Timothy encountered Lydia.  

With reverence, my tour group treaded across the grounds of ancient Philippi and visualized Lydia and other merchants selling goods in a once-thriving marketplace. God used this mysterious woman in a mighty way. Lydia, likely a widow, was the first Christian convert in Europe. She became a crucial figure in the spread of Christianity into the Gentile world.

Who Was Lydia, and Why Her?

After all, she’s mentioned only briefly in the Bible. Three major characteristics stand out:

1. Lydia operated an independent business.

• Successful businesswomen were rare during Lydia’s time, yet she thrived in the

  marketplace. Lydia’s purple cloth was well known. The fabric she sold was expensive

  and worn only by the elite. Lydia was a woman of means.

• We don’t know a lot about her background, but the Bible tells us she owned a house

  and controlled a household. Luke introduces her in Acts when he writes about Paul’s

  missionary journey to Philippi:

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

(Acts 16:13-14 NIV)

2. Lydia pursued hard work.

• Creating purple cloth was complicated. Workers used drops of purple liquid produced by the snails that lived in the Mediterranean Sea to dye the cloth. Hundreds of snails were required to make the dye for one garment! Also, this dye worked well only on animal fabrics such as wool or silk.

• The process was time-consuming and challenging, leading to steep prices. Purple became the color of royal families, rulers, and also the imperial color of the Romans. Could that be why Lydia went to Philippi, a Roman colony, to sell her cloth? Successful businesspeople follow marketing trends, after all. And maybe God led her there to meet Paul.

• Lydia met the challenges of her work head-on. The Christian walk can be challenging and requires perseverance.

3. Lydia kept her priorities in order.

• Lydia had a profitable enterprise. She had a business to mind. Despite her entrepreneurial success, Lydia prioritized service to God. Lydia’s immediate offer of hospitality to Paul and his companions after her conversion illustrates that faith produces outpourings of love and service.  

When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home.

“If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.”

And she persuaded us.

(Acts 16:15 NIV)

We find another mention of Lydia later in Acts:

After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,

where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.

(Acts 16:40 NIV)

This passage shows Lydia’s house had become a gathering place for believers in Philippi, further solidifying her significance to the early church.

Of Course, Lydia

Lydia’s story stands out for several reasons. She exemplifies the significant role women may have played in the growth of Christianity. Not only was she Europe’s first convert, she also hosted the first known fellowship in Philippi. Other women of the time surely followed suit, offering hospitality to encourage fellowship.

The account of Lydia’s belief and baptism also demonstrates God’s divine work in salvation: “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message” (Acts 16:14).

Lydia’s generosity, hospitality, and community building inspires us today. Let's recognize the important role believers of various backgrounds play in the growth of the church. Let's be bold in sharing God's message when we feel led because God prepares hearts to receive it.

Book Giveaway and Website News

The winner of last month's giveaway, The Apostle Paul is Terri M. Congratulations, Terri! Please message me your shipping address.

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Until next time...

Immersed in God's Love,

Candyce