Expanding through Faithful Women

Do you ever wonder if your life is making a difference; like your attempts to remain faithful just don't have much impact? In our next passage in the book of Acts, we see the powerful influence of a woman named Lydia. At first glance the story seems to be the simple historical account of one woman's conversion to Christianity. But if we look closer, we see that her faithfulness is the beginning of a new epoch in the Bible. Lydia's conversion is the beginning of the very first church on the continent of Europe. And Lydia's generosity allows that church to become a base of operations and powerful missions center for the Apostle Paul.

So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 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. 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. 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. 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