Acts 16 14

Acts 16:14 kjv

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

Acts 16:14 nkjv

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.

Acts 16:14 niv

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.

Acts 16:14 esv

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

Acts 16:14 nlt

One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.

Acts 16 verses

Acts 16 14 Meaning

Acts 16:14 describes the initial conversion of Lydia, a significant figure in early Christianity. It identifies her as a prosperous businesswoman from Thyatira, already inclined toward monotheistic faith ("a worshiper of God"). The verse crucially states that it was "The Lord" who divinely intervened, "opened her heart" to understand and accept the message delivered by Paul. This highlights God's sovereign role in salvation, enabling a person to receive and respond to the gospel, turning inward belief into outward attention and action. Lydia’s experience underscores that spiritual understanding and saving faith are ultimately gifts from God, not solely human accomplishments.

Acts 16 14 Context

Acts chapter 16 marks a significant turning point in Paul's second missionary journey. Following a divine vision guiding him to Macedonia (v. 9-10), Paul and his companions (Silas, Timothy, and Luke) sail to Philippi, a prominent Roman colony. They spend several days there, and on the Sabbath, they seek out a place of prayer, expecting to find a Jewish synagogue or gathering. They locate a gathering of women by a river outside the city, where Paul begins to speak to them. Acts 16:14 describes the direct result of this preaching for Lydia, leading to her conversion, the baptism of her household, and the establishment of the first house church in Philippi, signifying the initial success of the gospel in Europe.

Historically and culturally, Philippi was a strategic city with Roman colonial status, which meant Roman law and customs prevailed. While a Jewish community existed, it seems to have been small, as evidenced by the lack of a formal synagogue (requiring ten adult men). The gathering by the river highlights a spiritual longing among some women, possibly Gentiles attracted to Jewish monotheism (God-fearers). Lydia's profession as a "seller of purple goods" suggests not only financial prosperity but also independence, as this trade was highly valuable and demanded skilled labor and business acumen. This setting shows the gospel reaching diverse societal groups, including women of means and influence, demonstrating its universal appeal and God's expansive work.

Acts 16 14 Word analysis

• One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God.

  • γυνή (gynē): "Woman." Her gender is noteworthy, highlighting the early church's embrace of women in spiritual life and roles that often contrasted with societal norms limiting their public influence in some contexts.
  • Λυδία (Lydia): Her personal name. The name "Lydia" also indicates a geographical origin from the region of Lydia in Asia Minor. Her residence in Thyatira further details her background, as Thyatira was renowned for its textile industry and dyeing, reinforcing her connection to the "purple goods" trade.
  • πορφυρόπωλις (porphyropōlis): "Seller of purple goods." This term combines porphyra (purple) and pōlis (seller). Purple dye was exceedingly valuable, derived from murex shellfish, making it an expensive luxury item often associated with royalty, nobility, and high status (e.g., Exod 25:4, Jdg 8:26, Prov 31:22, Rev 18:12,16). Lydia’s profession indicates her wealth, social standing, and entrepreneurial spirit, likely running her own business, making her a woman of influence.
  • Θυατείρων (Thyatēirōn): "Thyatira." A city in Asia Minor, famed for its purple dye production and powerful trade guilds. The connection between Lydia’s profession and her hometown emphasizes authenticity and provides significant cultural detail.
  • σεβομένη τὸν Θεόν (sebomenē ton Theon): "A worshiper of God" or "God-fearer." This is a key phrase. Sebomai (to revere, worship) with Theos (God) refers to Gentiles who had gravitated towards Judaism, observing some of its practices and worshipping the one God of Israel, but had not fully converted (e.g., through circumcision). This spiritual openness suggests she had a monotheistic foundation and was already seeking divine truth, making her receptive to Paul’s message. She was a spiritual seeker, pre-disposed to monotheism.

• The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

  • ὁ Κύριος (ho Kyrios): "The Lord." In this New Testament context, "The Lord" primarily refers to God the Father and/or Jesus Christ, signifying divine action and authority. It is a powerful affirmation of God's direct involvement in spiritual transformation, not simply human initiative.
  • διήνοιξεν (dienoixen): "Opened." This verb, an aorist active indicative, points to a definite, decisive, and complete action. It implies not just an ordinary hearing, but a spiritual enablement. The verb is often used elsewhere for opening eyes or understanding (e.g., Luke 24:45, Acts 17:3). Here, it is an internal, spiritual opening.
  • τὴν καρδίαν (tēn kardian): "Her heart." In biblical understanding, the heart is not just the seat of emotions but the totality of a person’s inner being—intellect, will, moral consciousness, and affections. The Lord opening her heart means He made her entire inner person receptive and responsive to the gospel message. This is a divine, regenerating work that enables spiritual apprehension.
  • προσέχειν (prosechein): "To pay attention," "to give heed," "to listen intently." This implies an active, focused engagement, not just passive hearing. It suggests a mental and spiritual commitment to receiving and internalizing the message. This follows after the Lord has opened her heart, indicating the enabled human response to divine grace.
  • λαλουμένοις ὑπὸ Παύλου (laloumenois hypo Paulou): "What was said by Paul" or "the things being spoken by Paul." This clarifies that the message was the Gospel preached by Paul, using a human instrument for divine communication. It emphasizes the content of the message, the divine truth, which was powerfully effective through God's prior work in Lydia’s heart.

Acts 16 14 Bonus section

• The detail of Lydia being from Thyatira, a city known for purple dye, and her profession as a "seller of purple goods" is more than a casual description. It means she was a sophisticated, likely educated, and well-traveled businesswoman. This status afforded her significant respect and resources, making her conversion an immediate asset to the nascent Christian community in Philippi, as she could provide financial support and a place for gathering (Acts 16:15).
• The phrase "worshiper of God" (God-fearer) describes a specific sociological and religious group prevalent in the Greco-Roman world. These individuals, typically Gentiles, were attracted to the ethical monotheism of Judaism but often found full conversion (including circumcision for males) a barrier. They formed a natural bridge for the early Christian message, as they already believed in one God and had some familiarity with Jewish scripture and customs, making them prime candidates for accepting the Gospel (e.g., Cornelius in Acts 10).
• Luke, the author of Acts, often highlights God's opening of spiritual understanding. Beyond Lydia's heart, Luke also recorded Jesus opening the minds of the disciples to understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45) and later, Paul "opening" (expounding) the Scriptures in various synagogues (Acts 17:3). This motif emphasizes divine intervention for comprehension of God's truth.

Acts 16 14 Commentary

Acts 16:14 serves as a foundational verse demonstrating God's sovereign work in salvation, particularly His active role in preparing and enabling human hearts to receive the gospel. Lydia, a financially successful and spiritually inclined "God-fearer," represents an ideal recipient for Paul's message. Yet, her prior religiosity and open mind were insufficient for genuine spiritual transformation. The verse unequivocally states, "The Lord opened her heart." This highlights that salvation is ultimately a divine work of grace, a supernatural act of making the heart receptive to truth (John 6:44; Eph 2:8-9).

Lydia’s "heart" being opened refers to the totality of her inner self – her will, understanding, and affections – being divinely quickened and made capable of apprehending and accepting the spiritual truth. Her subsequent act "to pay attention" is a human response, but one empowered by God's initial spiritual intervention. This underscores the interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility in conversion; God initiates and enables, and humanity responds in faith and obedience. Lydia’s story provides a beautiful example of grace reaching beyond ethnic and social barriers, establishing a vibrant church in Europe starting with an independent, influential Gentile woman.