#8 LEAP OF FAITH

Acts 16:6 is a curious verse. Paul is on the Second Missionary Journey. He apparently wants to go into the province of Asia (western part of modern Turkey) but the Holy Spirit keeps him from doing so. Why? Possibly because he hasn’t met Lydia yet! Lydia lives in Philippi, a city in Macedonia. She is an international businesswoman from Thyatira, a city in Asia. Is it possible that her influence will later help Paul establish churches throughout Asia? Was she influential in the church later established in Thyatira talked about in Revelation 2:18-29? Lydia’s conversion story is told in Acts 16:11-15. Holy Spirit has not allowed Paul to go to Asia, but he did guide him to go to Philippi in Macedonia. Paul goes to pray at the river, where he meets Lydia. Lydia is described as a worshiper of God. This probably means she was a God Fearer, a non-Jew who was allowed to worship God at the local synagogue along with the other women. She listened to Paul, became a believer and was baptized.