Sha’ul’s Second Missionary Journey ~ Part 4

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We continue our ongoing story of Sha’ul’s Second Missionary Journey beginning in Acts 16:11.

Lydia Converted in Phillipi

¹¹ Sailing from Troas, we made a straight run to Samothrace; the next day, we went to Neapolis; ¹², and from there, we went on to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that part of Macedonia. We spent a few days in this city; ¹³ then on Shabbat, we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we understood a minyan met. We sat down and began speaking to the women who had gathered there.

Sha’ul and his companions did not plunge immediately into evangelizing the city, even though they knew God had called them there. No doubt, they needed to rest and pray and make their plans together. It is not enough to know where God wants us to work; we must also know when and how He wants us to work.

Philippi was a leading city of Macedonia but not the capital (Thessalonica was). It was a Roman colony where several military veterans lived after completing their service. As a result, Roman law was in effect in Philippi.

A minyan (“quorum” of ten men) would have been enough for a regular synagogue service, and a modified version of the service could proceed with fewer men or even with no men and only women, as is the case here since Sha’ul and his companions spoke to the women who had gathered there.

¹⁴ One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in fine purple cloth. She was already a “God-fearer,” and the Lord opened up her heart to respond to what Sha’ul was saying.

¹⁵ After she and the members of her household had been immersed, she gave us this invitation: “If you consider me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she insisted till we went. ^[1]

Household immersion (baptism) is mentioned several times in the book of Acts (16:31–34 and 18:8). It is never stated who exactly was involved in such baptisms. If the leader of a household converted, perhaps others of the household (children, servants, spouse, etc.) were persuaded to respond in the same way. It is assumed, based on Lydia’s response (16:14) and her question to Sha’ul after her baptism (If you consider me to be faithful to the Lord), that her confession of faith preceded her baptism. This suggests that only those of the household who were mature enough to make their own positive response to the Gospel would have been baptized.

In our next post, we will continue to explore Shaul’s Second Missionary Journey, starting in chapter 6:16.

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^[1] Acts 16:11–15.