Daily Thoughts from Acts: Faith and Works (Acts 16:11-15)

So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 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 16:11-15 ESV)

The team sails to the island of Samothrace on the way to Macedonia after Paul’s dream of a Macedonian man asking for help, and then to the port city of Neapolis in Macedonia, but do not stop until they reach the first major city, Philippi, a Roman colony.  Rome bestowed on some cities among their conquered peoples the status of colony if they were deemed worthy.  Typically this became a place then that Roman soldiers might settle down and have some privileges, perhaps being granted land. 

Paul’s strategy, or the Holy Spirit’s, was to minister in the larger cities, and to especially begin preaching in the synagogue.  But in Philippi there were so few Jews that there was no synagogue.  There had to be a certain number of Jewish males to establish a synagogue.  So the Jews and God-fearers (Gentiles who converted to Judaism) gathered at the river for prayer in lieu of a regular synagogue or meeting place.  It is possible that all those gathered were women.

One woman in particular, a Gentile convert or God-fearer, is mentioned.  God opens Lydia’s heart to receive Paul’s message.  Until God opens one’s heart one will not believe.  Nevertheless, God holds all responsible for whether they believe or not (Romans 9:16-20).  As a new convert and a woman of some wealth she offers to house and support the team.  Paul is following Jesus’ instructions to his disciples that when they entered a town they were to “find out who is worthy” and stay there (Matthew 10:11).  Her home becomes the hub of the new church and of the team’s outreach.

Lydia’s comment to Paul is, “If you have judged me faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.”  She understands that there must be a trust in her genuineness of faith if they are to accept her service.  But her very energy that leads her to prevail upon them to stay demonstrates her faithfulness to the Lord.  Saving faith always produces faithfulness.  She shows all the evidence of a true convert.

What is the evidence that you are a genuine child of God?  What faithfulness to the Lord have you demonstrated?  There must always be evidence.

A ferryman had the word “faith” painted on one oar and the word “work” on the other.  He was asked the reason for thus “naming” the oars, and replied by showing rather than by words.  He laid the oar that had “work” painted on it in the bottom of the skiff, took the oar that had “faith” on it, and with both hands pulled with all his strength, and the boat went round and round, gradually floating down the stream with the current.  Then he placed faith oar in the bottom of the skiff and took up work oar with both hands, with the same result, the boat gradually floating down the stream.  Then he took faith oar in one hand, work oar in the other, and pulled with both together, and the skiff moved out of the current and across the stream.