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Acts 16:11-15. Paul and his companions (now including Luke!) set sail from Troas, making stops in various cities until they reach Philippi, the leading city in that district of Macedonia, and a Roman colony. They remain there some days and on the Sabbath they go to a place outside the gate of the city which they understand to be a place of prayer. The spot is by the river, and they sit and talk with the women who gather together there. One of these women is named Lydia, she is a "a seller of purple goods" and a worshiper of God. "The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul." She is baptized, along with her whole household, and she prevails upon Paul and the others to come and stay with her.

 

Typically, as we have seen, when Paul comes into a new city he goes to the synagogue, usually on the Sabbath, to preach the Good News. In Philippi, however, he goes to what he believes is a place of prayer outside the city by the river, where he speaks to the women who had gathered there. In the synagogues, Paul preached to and converted mainly men. Here, he is speaking to women, we don't hear of any men being there at all. It would seem to me that Paul was seeking women out in this effort. Women are more likely to gather, pray, and talk in a setting outside the male-dominated synagogue - even outside the male-dominated city. It makes sense that they would have a "place of their own" outside the gate by the river. They probably frequented the spot to do laundry, or other household tasks requiring water, and had met each other there.

 

So this missionary trip seems specifically geared towards women. It is interesting that it is the first one described after Luke joins the group, since Luke is known to be a promoter of women. I wonder if it was Luke's influence that brought Paul to this spot? In any case, it was effective and providential. Here they meet Lydia - who is a clearly well-to-do woman who traffics in purple goods (purple being a very hard to come by and expensive dye, and purple cloth being reserved for royalty and the elite). There is no mention of a husband, Lydia appears to be a successful business-woman in her own right. Thus, she may have waited a long time before hearing the Gospel if not for Paul's excursion here - she had no husband who would bring this news home to her from the synagogue or other male gatherings. But Paul did make this excursion, and thus Lydia and her whole household are baptized. Now the Lord has an intelligent, connected woman to help spread His message.

 

Paul is often portrayed as a bit of a misogynist, but I think that is unfair, as I have written about before. This is an example of Paul reaching out specifically to women, bringing them into the Church and recognizing their unique gifts to be used in spreading the Word.

 

 

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Update: 3/9/23 After posting this, I realized this was written on the International Day of Women - 3/8/23! God is so cool!