The gospel arrived in Europe via a divergent and unlikely path. It was divergent because the Lord thwarted man’s plans and introduced a better one. It was unlikely because it was a Jewish woman—a prominent entrepreneur named Lydia—who became the continent’s first recorded disciple.

Scripture only mentions Lydia twice. But each mention demonstrates her full surrender and hospitality.

Meeting her and a group of other Jewish women might not have been on Paul’s original docket, but it clearly was on the Lord’s. And He used that encounter to change the fabric of a continent.

Europe’s Transformation Begins

During his second missionary journey, the apostle Paul intended to take the gospel to Asia. But the Holy Spirit forbade them (Acts 16:6). Instead he, Silas and Luke would visit Bithynia. Again the Lord blocked their plans (vs. 7). 

Where was the Lord leading? What would be the apostle’s next steps?

Then Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man who pleaded for Paul to “help us” (vs. 9). 

So Paul and his team immediately set out for Macedonia, in what is now northern Greece, to the city of Philippi. There they encountered not a man but a woman whose salvation represented the launch of the European church.

And on the Sabbath day, we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.—Acts 16:13-15 (ESV)

How did Lydia respond to the gospel? She started by sharing her newfound faith with her family, resulting in the whole crew being baptized as a public testimony of their mutual commitment to Christ. Then the brand spanking-new believer immediately insisted Paul and his companions stay at her house.

The Church Begins

Paul’s and Silas’ message was less welcome among other Philippians. After exorcising an annoying slave girl who followed them around for days (vs. 16-19), they found themselves in jail for “disturbing our city” and advocating “customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice” (vs. 20-21). 

But God wasn’t done drawing people there to Himself.

He sent an earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison, opened the prison doors and broke the prisoners’ shackles. This would result in the salvation of the fear-stricken jailer and his household. The church of Philippi grew.

The next day, Paul and Silas were released, so they went out of the prison and visited Lydia (vs 40). Her home became their remote home base.

As the church grew, Paul’s disciple Timothy became its pastor. The birth of the church of Philippi resulted not only in the gospel permeating Europe but also the birth of three epistles—1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Philippians—that would have permanent places in the canon of scripture.

What We Can Learn from Her

Lydia teaches us that chance encounters can have eternal consequences. In her case, an entire continent was put on the path to hearing the good news. 

She listened carefully to what Paul had to say and responded with faith. She didn’t wait to go through an evangelism class to begin witnessing. Instead, she immediately shared the gospel with her family. Then she began serving, offering her home to those doing the Lord’s work.

As we look at what little we know of Lydia’s life, we see the value of obedience, witnessing and surrendering our hearts and lives to the Lord. Lydia’s humility and faith began a movement that led a continent from darkness to light. What lasting impact can your obedience and testimony have?

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This is Part 15 in a series about biblical women—some named, some not, some honorable, some less so. But all have earned a place in scripture, and all have important lessons to teach us.