Conversion in Acts, Part 6

Introduction

We continue our series on Conversions in Acts as we reach chapter 16. An interesting event takes place and two conversions are discussed in this chapter. We’ll look at each one individually. Please read Acts 16:1-15.

Meet Timothy

As chapter 16 begins, we note that Paul is on his second missionary journey but, this time, with Silas. His first journey was with Barnabas and then they returned to Jerusalem for the conference (Acts 15).

Paul and Barnabas had an argument about bringing John Mark along, on the second journey and they ended up going their separate ways (Acts 15:36-41). When they arrive in Derbe, they meet up with a disciple named Timothy who is to go along with them but, Paul had him circumcised first as his father was a Greek.

Keep in mind that, although circumcision was a part of the Old Law, and the debate in chapter 15 was concerning this, Timothy’s mother (Eunice; 2 Tim. 1:3) was a believing Jew (Acts 16:1). This then makes Timothy a Jew in their eyes so Paul had him circumcised out of respect for his heritage.

Verse 5 reads, So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. With all three of them doing the teaching and preaching, each congregation they visited were strengthened. Remember, this is Paul’s second trip so these congregations were already in existence (Acts 15:36).

The Macedonian Call

As their travels continued, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to travel to certain parts of Asia Minor (vs. 6-8). The reason was shown in the next few verses, And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. (Acts 16:9-12)

God had desired that they head straightaway to Macedonia and preach there. So, without hesitation, that’s exactly what they did and arrived in Philippi days later.

Meet Lydia

Verse 13 shares something interesting, And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there (Acts 16:13). Commentary suggests that there was no synagogue found in Philippi as there had to be ten Jewish men present (it’s safe to say that this was, most likely, a Gentile-based city). Further, Under such circumstances it was normal for Jews to select a meeting place near a river or some body of water in order to facilitate their various ceremonial washings (Johnny Stringer, Commentary on Acts).

Simply put, these women are not at the river doing their laundry. Since it was the Sabbath Day, they were worshipping here. As Jesus commanded in Mt. 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” Notice the first word is ‘Go’. Since there was no synagogue, they went to the area where they met for worship.

Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us (Acts 16:14-15 NKJV).

A “seller of purple” means either she sold the dye itself or material that was colored purple. Either way the dye was expensive which would mean that Lydia was a rather prosperous woman. The next part, The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul, some suggest that this was the Holy Spirit working on her to receive the word. This flies in the face of Calvinistic doctrine! It was simply a false teaching.

God opened her heart in the opposite way that He hardened Pharoah’s heart in the story of the Ten Plagues. This simply means that although she might have known the Jewish traditions, she was willing to listen to the gospel preached by Paul and company. She was open-minded and was willing to understand the difference in doctrines.

She was then baptized, her and her whole household. As we stated in the previous conversions, baptism IS essential for salvation as it washes away one’s sins. She then persuaded Paul and associates to stay at her house.

The argument made, at this point (like with Cornelius), is that if a whole household was baptized this would include infants. Whether there were infants, or not, in the household is irrelevant. Jesus said “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16) Only those who are capable of belief will be baptized. Once again, this is the false doctrine of Calvinism that says all individuals are born totally depraved.

Did they Use a Building for Worship?

Some might speculate that because the women met at the river, there is no authority for a meeting place such as a building or someone’s home. This is simply not true. As stated, earlier, there was no synagogue but, when they were all baptized, they became members of the church (universal); the body of Christ (Acts 2:47; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23).

These Christians would then meet, on the first day of the week (Sunday), and have a proper worship service. This would probably be inside as an actual location (most likely Lydia’s home) would be needed so that other Christians from the area, or those visiting from other cities, would be able to attend services with them. Keep in mind that it’s the people that are called the church, but a location gives them an established place to meet and for others to easily find them.

Conclusion

This is the start of the church in Philippi as Paul, later, wrote a letter to them (See Philippians). The reference to Thyatira; where Lydia is from, is one of the seven churches of Asia Minor referenced in the book of Revelation (Rev. 2:18-29).

As mentioned earlier, Paul didn’t set up a place and wait for people to show up, he went to them. We, as Christians, need to do the same thing. We need to go to people to teach them and then, later, invite them to assemble with the local brethren.