The beloved physician Luke shared how, “a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis. And from there to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 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 spoke unto the women which resorted there”, and in chapter sixteen and verse fourteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how he, Paul and Silas found, “a certain woman named Lydia” where we read:
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
The verse begins, “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped God, heard us:” Luke began with the words, “and a certain woman” which means “and a particular female human being” “named Lydia” or “who was called and known by the name Lydia which means travail”, “a seller of purple” which means “who sold fabrics dyed in a purple color”, “of the city of Thyatira” or “belonging to the dwelling place, habitation and abode of Thyatira which means odor of affliction and was a colony of Macedonia Greeks, situated between Sardis and Pergamos on the river Lycus; its inhabitants gained their living by traffic and the art of dyeing in purple”, “which worshiped God” which means “who were devout to, adored and revered God the Heaven” “heard us” or “was endowed with the faculty of hearing, perceiving and attending to Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke”. Luke shared how there was a particular woman whose name was “Lydia”, sold “purple fabric”, was from the city of “Thratira”, revered God and “heard” what Paul and his companions had to say.
The verse goes on to say, “whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” Luke continued with the words, “whose heart” or “whose soul and mind as the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors” “the Lord opened” which means “the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has the power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah roused to understanding and toward the desire of learning” “that she attended” or “that Lydia gave heed, paid attention and adhered” “unto the things spoke of Paul” which means “to the words uttered, declared and proclaimed by Paul whose name means small or little”. Luke shared how “Lydia's” soul and mind was “roused to understanding” by the “Lord” which gave her the desire to pay attention to what “Paul” had to say.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn about this woman named “Lydia” who was among the women by the riverside just outside of Philippi. She was industrious as she sold fabrics made of “purple” which was considered royal and very expensive in her day. She was from “Thyratira” where the people were known to sell “purple” items, and she was given the faculty to carefully listen to what “Paul” had to say, and we shall see how she responds in our next verse. For now let all who read these words understand that God desires to “open” the “heart” of any person who yields themselves to His Son Jesus, and when they submit to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life.
Next time Luke shares how Lydia, “was baptized, and her household”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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