1. The Conversion of Lydia
Based on an article by Mike Willis
Deborah, Esther, Rahab, Mary, Elizabeth
Acts 16:11-15

2. About Lydia A seller of purple, cf. Pr. 31 A worshiper of God
Philippi was about 300 miles from Thyatira.

4. About Lydia A seller of purple, cf. Pr. 31 A worshiper of God
Philippi was about 300 miles from Thyatira.
She didn’t forgo worship because she was traveling.
She observed the Sabbath, even though it put her at a commercial disadvantage.
She worshipped even though there was no synagogue.

5. About Lydia
She was hospitable, 16:15, cf. Heb. 13:2, 1 Pet 4:9, Romans 12:13
Like Cornelius, she was moral but lost, Acts 10:1- 6, 11:14
Heb. 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
1 Peter 4:9  Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
Romans 12:13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

6. Lydia’s conversion 16:14, The Lord opened her heart.
Her heart was closed, but not because she was totally depraved.
“From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.“
Westminster Confession of Faith
Romans 7:9
Matthew 18:3, 19:14

7. Lydia’s Conversion
Lydia worshipped God and prayed to Him – that is not “wholly inclined to all evil.”
Her heart was closed as every other Jewish person who wouldn’t receive Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:22-23

8. How did The Lord open her heart?
Lydia’s heart was opened by the preaching of the gospel not a direct operation of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 1:21, John 6:44-45, Mark 16:15

9. Consider the Context
Acts 15:40, Paul and Silas begin Paul’s 2nd missionary journey.
Acts 16:1, Timothy joins them.
Acts 16:6, After going throughout Phrygia and Galatia, they wanted to go to Asia, but the Holy Spirit forbade them.

10. Consider the Context
Acts 16:7, They traveled to Mysia, intending to preach in Bithynia, “but the Spirit did not permit them.”
Acts 16:9, They came to Troas where Luke joined them and Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia pleading with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

11. Consider the Context
Acts 16:10-11, They concluded the Lord wanted them to preach in Macedonia, so they found a boat leaving that day.
Acts 16:11, They ran a straight course (they didn’t have to tack), and made the trip in 2 days.
The return trip in Acts 20:6 took 5 days.

12. God at work Kept them from preaching in Asia.
Told them to preach in Macedonia.
They just happened to find a boat at Troas that just happened to have room for them.
The winds just happened to be favorable.
They just happened to run into Lydia.

13. Lydia heeded Paul's words.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
She was obedient. Romans 1:5, 16:26

14. Lydia heeded paul’s words.
Why was she baptized? Cf. Acts 8:35-36
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.