Baptism (v 15)

“Now when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.’” (1) That same day, Lydia and her household were baptized. Which means that baptism followed immediately after conversion. It was baptism by immersion. It was not only Lydia whose heart was opened by the Lord but her entire household. “Household,” which in Greek is “oikos,” is a broad term that includes servants as well. From this term, it is unclear whether Lydia was married. Additionally, there is no mention of how the other women by the riverside reacted. (2) Lydia became the first believer in Europe, led to faith by Paul. She then invited Paul’s group to stay in her home, which was large enough to accommodate four guests. This invitation was a proposal to make her home the base for their ministry in Philippi. In the Roman world, lodging was scarce, and the available accommodations were often unpleasant. Early Christians had a custom of hosting itinerant preachers in their homes. Lydia persuaded Paul’s group to stay with her. Which was an act of love that demonstrated the authenticity of her faith. She was saved by faith, but her faith was accompanied by action.

The gospel is the power of God

The gospel is the power of God for salvation to all people. Looking ahead, Luke highlights three individuals in Philippi who came to faith: Lydia, a slave woman, and a jailer. Despite their vastly different statuses and circumstances, they were all saved by the same gospel. Paul declares in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” The mission in Philippi demonstrates that the gospel is indeed the power of God for salvation to all who believe. We, too, have been saved through this gospel.