At least one of the women was a lady who was in Philippi on business. She trusted Christ. Thyatira, her hometown in the province of Asia, was a city famous for its purple dye and cloth (cf. Revelation 2:18-29). [1] During the Roman Period, laws restricted who could wear clothes dyed purple because it was the most precious of all colors. Thus Lydia undoubtedly dealt with an exclusive and affluent clientele. It had not been the right time for Paul to evangelize Asia ( Acts 16:6), but God brought a woman who lived there to him in Macedonia. Her name, Lydia, may have some connection with the fact that her hometown stood in an area that was formerly part of the old kingdom of Lydia. Some scholars have even surmised that Lydia was not her name but only her place of origin. We owe coined money to the Lydian kingdom. King Croesus first produced uniform coins there in the sixth century B.C. Wealthy King Croesus may have been the person behind the legend of King Midas whose touch supposedly turned anything to gold. [source][source][source]
Luke again emphasized God"s initiative in opening her heart to the gospel ( Acts 16:14, cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4) and the hearts of those in her household (cf. Acts 16:33; Acts 11:14). Her "household" included servants as well as her family (cf. Acts 10:24; Acts 10:44; Acts 16:31; Acts 18:8; Romans 16:10-11; 1 Corinthians 1:16). Water baptism is in view ( Acts 16:15). It followed her conversion immediately (cf. Acts 16:33; Acts 8:36; et al.). [source][source][source]
Lydia offered her large home to Paul and his companions as their headquarters while they remained in Philippi. This was a common practice in the Roman world, especially among Christians, since public housing facilities were few and unpleasant (cf. Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9). [source][source][source]
"Young people sometimes hear a fervent missionary from a distant field tell of the need of young men and young women for work in Africa or China or in some other country. They say, "I must answer the call." They arrange to leave everything here and go out to the mission field, only to find that nobody wants them. And they say, "Isn"t that queer? They were pleading that we come, and instead of wanting us they are ready, in some instances, to kill us." Was the missionary wrong? Did he give a false impression of conditions? Not at all! The heathen do not realize their need often until the preaching of the true God gives them a sense of their real condition, but it is that need, nevertheless, which calls for someone to help." [2][source]