11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Acts 16:11-15 (ESV)
PROVIDENTIAL PURPOSE
During the apostle Paul’s missionary journey recorded in Acts, he makes over 30 stops over a period estimated to be between 12–15 years long.
Along this journey, we are told that Paul had been “forbidden by the Holy Spirit in Asia (Acts 16:6).” A few verses later, Paul sees a man from Macedonia in a vision urging him to “come over to Macedonia and help us.” He and his companions took that as a sign from God to make that journey and did so (Acts 16:10).
A central character in our study this week has been Lydia from Thyatira, which is located in Asia in modern-day Turkey. Being a successful and prominent businesswoman who sold “purple goods,” Lydia had moved to ply her trade in the city of Philippi, a predominantly military town which was roughly a two weeks’ journey from Thyatira.
We can infer from the text that Lydia was a faithful Jewish believer, but given the predominantly male and military nature of Philippi, there was no place of meeting for people of her faith. She is therefore found gathered on the riverbank with a small group of women where her story intersects with Paul’s.
In a sermon he gave on Lydia’s conversion, Charles Spurgeon discussed God’s purposeful means of creating this intersection:
“You will remember that Thyatira was situated in that part of the country into which Paul was forbidden by the Spirit to go and preach; therefore, had Lydia been at home, she could not have heard the truth; and as ‘Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God,’ she must have remained unconverted. But providence brings her to Philippi at the right time.”
God had set in place all that was necessary to bring Lydia to that riverbank. He had used her trade, her business sense, her faith, her success, and geography to create the perfect moment that she would hear Paul’s words and so accept Jesus as her savior. Alas, the church in Europe had begun.
The series of events that had to come into play – Paul being shut out of certain locations, Lydia’s business bringing her to the riverbank, and her financial means lending themselves to ministry – all paint the picture of the architect of our faith finely tuning our lives to serve the ultimate glory of his kingdom.
After finding this gift in the sweet song of salvation, Lydia immediately shifts all she is in the fervent pursuit of Jesus. Her house, built on the success of her business, became the first church in Europe. Her entire household was baptized, and later in the book of Acts, when Paul leaves, he goes to see Lydia first, meaning this was not a fading passion but a real commitment to Jesus.
Our faith has been brought about due to the providential purpose of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May we all be filled with immense gratitude for him, and may we also respond each day with this unrelenting pursuit of Jesus in our lives.
Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.
