Lydia
Lydia (Ancient Greek: Λυδία, romanized: Ludía; Latin: Lȳdia) was an Iron Age kingdom situated in the west of Asia Minor, in modern-day Turkey. Later, it became an important province of the Achaemenid Empire and then the Roman Empire. Its capital was Sardis. Lydia of Thyatira is a woman introduced in the New Testament who is considered the first recorded convert to Christianity in Europe. Several Christian denominations have sanctioned her as a saint. She is regularly known as “St. Lydia” or simply “The Woman of Purple.” Lydia in the Bible was originally from Thyatira but was living in Philippi when she met Paul on his second missionary journey. She was a seller of purple cloth, which Thyatira was famous for, being a center of indigo trade. Lydia is a Biblical given name: Lydia of Thyatira, businesswoman in the city of Thyatira in the New Testament's Acts of the Apostles. She was the apostle Paul 's first convert in Philippi and thus the first convert to Christianity in Europe. Lydia hosted Paul and Silas after their release from prison. Lydia ran a successful business selling a luxury product: purple cloth. This was a unique achievement for a woman during the male-dominated Roman empire. More importantly, though, she believed in Jesus Christ as Savior, was baptized and.
Lydia of Thyatira (Greek: Λυδία) is a woman mentioned in the New Testament who is regarded as the first documented convert to Christianity in Europe. Several Christian denominations have designated her a saint . Lydia appears in several verses in Acts 16. In this article, we’ll dive into who she is, why she receives a special mention in the New Testament, and what we can learn from her example. Who Was... Lydia, with its capital at Sardis, rose to its greatest prominence under the reign of the Mermnad dynasty (c. 700 - 546 BCE). The first king of the dynasty was Gyges (r. c. 680 – 645 BCE) who can claim the fame of being the first named tyrant in Greek records. Lydia, a prominent figure in the New Testament, is best known for her role in the early Christian church. She is introduced in Acts 16:14-15, where she is described as a “seller of purple” from the city of Thyatira.
