“He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Lydia Hebrews 11:6 “He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

Queen Elizabeth

DISCUSSION GUIDE 1. Review Acts 15:40-16:8. According to these verses, who was with Paul? Silas and Timothy

DISCUSSION GUIDE 2. Read Acts 16:8-10 and note the personal pronouns. How did the pronouns change between verses 8 and 10? “They” changed to “we,” indicating that the author of Acts joined Paul’s group.

Dr. Luke, the author of Acts, was an eyewitness to these events. DISCUSSION GUIDE 3. Why is this significant? Dr. Luke, the author of Acts, was an eyewitness to these events.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 4. Where did Paul and his friends go on the Sabbath? What did they expect to find there? (Acts 16:13) They went outside the city gate to the river. They expected to find people praying there.

They talked to women who had gathered there. DISCUSSION GUIDE 5. To whom did Paul and his friends talk at this place of prayer? (Acts 16:13) They talked to women who had gathered there.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 6. It was Lydia’s custom to pray beside the river. Where do you meet God?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 7. What do we know about Lydia? (Acts 16:14) She was a dealer in purple cloth, originally from the city of Thyatira, and she was a worshipper of God.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 8. How did Lydia respond to Paul’s message? (Acts 16:14) She became a believer.

God opened Lydia’s heart. DISCUSSION GUIDE 9. Who opened Lydia’s heart? (Acts 1 6:14) God opened Lydia’s heart.

10. Who influenced you to open your heart to the Lord? DISCUSSION GUIDE 10. Who influenced you to open your heart to the Lord?

She influenced her household. DISCUSSION GUIDE 11. Paul influenced Lydia to become a believer. Who did Lydia influence? (Acts 16:15) She influenced her household.

She offered to let them stay at her home. DISCUSSION GUIDE 12. What did Lydia offer Paul and his group? (Acts 16:15) She offered to let them stay at her home.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 13. What impresses you most about Lydia? a. That she was a business woman at a time when few women worked outside the home. b. That she was a regular worshipper. c. That she was immediately receptive to the gospel.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 13. What impresses you most about Lydia? d. That she led her household to the Lord. e. That she was willing to make her home available to people she did not know. f. Other ______________________