Lydia

Reading about the conversion of Lydia in Acts 16.14. Luke tells us three things about her: She is from Thyatira; she is a seller of purple; and she was a worshiper of God. Ben Witherington in the Anchor Bible Dictionary says that she was a Jew; Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible says that she was a Gentile who had not converted to Judaism, but joined in worship with the Jews—an interesting disagreement.

At any rate she comes to faith—and here Luke is very careful with his words—The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul (ESV), or as KJV puts it: Whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul.

Lydia, who as a seller of purple cloth was probably quite well to do—purple cloth was the color of royalty so it was worn only by the privileged classes—comes to faith, the first convert that Luke mentions in Europe. The first church in Europe is rapidly (the same day apparently) established in her own home. It is with good purpose that Luke mentions her by name in Acts.

We cannot all be entrepreneurs like Lydia; however, we can have our hearts opened to the gospel by the Lord. Like Lydia, our duty is to listen and allow the Holy Spirit to come to bear on our hearts.