A Quick Look at the Conversion of Lydia Quiz

Answer: Philippi

The correct answer is Philippi, an ancient city in eastern Macedonia. Notes in the New King James Study Bible state "Philippi owes its name to Philip of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great) who took it from the Thracians and named it after himself." The notes go on to state Philippi was "strategically located on the east-west Egnatian Highway between Rome and Asia and served as a starting point for Alexander the Great when he began his military campaigns to conquer the world." According to Wikipedia, the modern day municipality of Filippoi is near the ruins of the ancient city.

Answer: Was a dealer in purple cloth

Lydia was a dealer in purple cloth. In Biblical times, the color purple was associated with royalty and kingship and was in demand by the elite. The production of purple cloth was a painstaking and tedious process and required thousands of shells from an ocean mollusk to make a couple yards of cloth, according to information from SermonCentral.com.

Answer: Thyatira

Lydia was originally from Thyatira. According to Wikipedia, Thyatira is the name of the modern Turkish city of Akhisar. The city is in the western part of Turkey, about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea.

Answer: Outside the city gate by a river

Paul and his group met up with Lydia outside the city gate, by a river. According to Scripture, she was with a group of women.

Answer: Sabbath

According to Scripture, the meeting took place on the Sabbath. Luke, the writer of Acts, states Paul and his group had gone outside the city gate, by the river, on the Sabbath, expecting to find a place to pray. Notes in the NIV Study Bible state "there were so few Jews in Philippi that there was no synagogue, so the Jews who were there met for prayer along the banks of the Gangites River.

It was customary for such places of prayer to be located outdoors near running water."

Answer: Opened her heart

Scripture states the Lord opened Lydia's heart to Paul's message. Notes in the NIV Study Bible state Lydia "was a Gentile... who believed in the true God and followed the moral teachings of Scripture. She had not, however, became a full convert to Judaism.

After the resurrection the minds of the disciples were opened to understand Scripture (Luke 24:45); similarly, Lydia's heart was opened to respond to the gospel message of Paul."

Answer: True

True. It appears there was no holding back for Lydia. As soon as she heard Paul's message, she decided to be baptized and her entire household followed suit. (Acts 16:15). It was common for entire households to be baptized together.

Answer: Stay at her house

Lydia was apparently extremely grateful to Paul after hearing his message of salvation. So she insisted that the great apostle to the Gentiles, as well as his fellow workers, stay at her house. Acts 16: 15, in the NIV Bible, describes the turn of events this way: "When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. 'If you consider me a believer in the Lord,' she said, 'come and stay at my house.' And she persuaded us."

Answer: The exact number is not given

No exact number is given as to the number of people in Lydia's household. There is no mention if she had a husband. Speculation at various Internet sites, however, suggests Lydia was fairly wealthy, as she sold purple cloth to the elite, and she may have had servant staff to take care of her and any other members of her immediate family.

Answer: Went to Lydia's house

After converting the jailer and his family to Christianity, Paul and Silas headed to Lydia's house. Acts 16: 40, in the NIV Bible, states: "After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left."