Acts 16:14

Acts 16:14

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.

a. 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.

b. 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.

c. YLT: And a certain woman, by name Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, worshipping God, was hearing, whose heart the Lord did open to attend to the things spoken by Paul;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: One of those who listened to us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in fabrics dyed in purple. She was [already] a worshiper of God, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

e. Worrell Translation: And a certain woman, Lydia by name, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyratira, who worshipped God, was listening, whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things spoken by Paul.

f. Wuest Translation: And a certain woman, by the name Lydia, a seller of purple fabrics, from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, was listening, whose heart the Lord had opened up wide so that she kept her mind concentrated upon the things which were spoken by Paul.

g. Peshitta Eastern Text: And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, feard God; her heart was so touched by our LORD that she listened to what Paul said.

1. “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira…”

a. And [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. a certain [Strong: 5100 tis tis an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:--a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).]

c. woman [Strong: 1135 gune goo-nay' probably from the base of 1096; a woman; specially, a wife:--wife, woman.]

d. named [Strong: 3686 onoma on'-om-ah from a presumed derivative of the base of 1097 (compare 3685); a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character):--called, (+ sur-)name(-d).]

e. Lydia [Strong: 3070 Ludia loo-dee'-ah properly, feminine of Ludios (of foreign origin) (a Lydian, in Asia Minor); Lydia, a Christian woman: -Lydia.]

    

f. a seller of purple [Strong: 4211 porphuropolis por-foo-rop'-o-lis feminine of a compound of 4209 and 4453; a female trader in purple cloth:--seller of purple.] [porphuropolis; prophura-a purple dye or garment or cloth; poleo-to sell.]

g. [of the] city [Strong: 4172 polis pol'-is probably from the same as 4171, or perhaps from 4183; a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size):--city.]

h. of Thyatira [Strong: 2363 Thuateira thoo-at'-i-rah of uncertain derivation; Thyatira, a place in Asia Minor:--Thyatira.] [Thayer: a colony of Macedonia Greeks, situated between Sardis and Pergamos on the river Lycus; its inhabitants gained their living by traffic and the art of dyeing in purple.]

    

1). Lydia was a successful business woman. It is never mentioned if she was married

2. “…which worshipped God…”

a. which worshipped [Strong: 4576 sebomai seb'-om-ahee middle voice of an apparently primary verb; to revere, i.e. adore:--devout, religious, worship.]

b. God [Strong: 2316 theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

1). The Acts of the Apostles, Robert E, Tourville. “Luke introduces us to a woman, Lydia, from the city of Thyatira. This lady was “a worshipper of God”…a term for a proselyte of the ate used here and in other places to this effect.”

2). Jewish New Testament Commentary, David Stearn: “A God fearer…is regarded by many scholars as a technical term for  describing a Gentile who attached himself to Judaism but chose not to undergo formal conversion, which included circumcision and public (proselyte baptism). This class of Gentiles, known in Judaism as “proselytes of the gate”, was quite large at this time. They were attracted to the nobility of Jewish worship and the truth of the one God who had revealed himself in the Bible, but for various reasons did not become Jews.”

3. “…heard us: whose heart the Lord opened,

a. heard [us] [Strong: 191 akouo ak-oo'-o a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.]

b. whose [Strong: 3739 hos hos, including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

c. heart [Strong: 2588 kardia kar-dee'-ah prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).]

d. the Lord [Strong: 2962 kurios koo'-ree-os from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

e. opened [Strong: 1272 dianoigo dee-an-oy'-go from 1223 and 455; to open thoroughly, literally (as a first-born) or figuratively (to expound):--open.] [dianoigo; dia-through; anoigo-to open.]

    

1). By looking at some of the other uses of this term in the NT we can see that Lydia got a revelation of Jesus.

a). Luke 24:31, 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

b). Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

c). Acts 17:2, 3 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

4. “…that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”

a. [that she] attended [Strong: 4337 (figuratively) to hold the mind (3563 implied) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to:--(give) attend(-ance, -ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to unto); have regard.] [Zodiates: to have in addition, to hold the mind or the ear toward someone.] [prosecho; pro-to; echo-to have.]

1). The use of the word in the NT gives the impression to pay attention, be alert even to be on guard.

a). Matthew 7:35  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

b). Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

c). Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

b. unto the things [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. which were spoken [Strong: 2980 laleo lal-eh'-o a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.]

d. of [Strong: 5259 hupo hoop-o' a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):--among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In the comparative, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specially, covertly or moderately.]

e. Paul [Strong: 3972 Paulos pow'-los of Latin origin; (little; but remotely from a derivative of 3973, meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle:--Paul, Paulus.]

          

1). It is clear from the following verse that this woman received Christ, for afterward whe was baptized.