Reading a book is good, with help is sometimes great

A little taste of the reason why one should seek help while reading books from the past, like for instance, the Bible.

Today I learned that back in the days of the Roman Empire/ Apostle Paul (Saul), many women taught the Jews, scripture because it takes 10 men to build a synagogue!

If women can teach on the Sabbath in open areas, why not also in buildings?

https://www.bible-studys.org/index.html

Acts 16:13-15 - KJV

Acts 16:13 "And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted [thither]."

“By a river side”: Evidently, the Jewish community did not have the minimum of 10 Jewish men who were heads of households required to form a synagogue. In such cases, a place of prayer under the open sky and near a river or sea was adopted as a meeting place. Most likely this spot was located where the road leading out of the city crossed the Gangites River.

“Women which resorted thither”: In further evidence of the small number of Jewish men, it was women who met to pray, read from the Old Testament law, and discuss what they read.

Jew often gathered by a riverside on the Sabbath when their community lacked enough Jewish males to establish a synagogue. Since the institution of the synagogue is usually dated with the Exile (as in Ezek. 11:16), this practice may also have arisen from Ezekiel (1:1; 3:15).

There are several things we must notice here. These people were Jewish, because they observed Sabbath. We know that Luke was with Paul here, because he says "we", and Luke is the penman. It is rather interesting that Paul is not speaking in the synagogue, but on a river bank.

It is also interesting, that his first ministry here in Philippi is to the women. This has to be the working of the Holy Spirit. We will find later (in Philippians 4:3), that the church in Philippi has two women ministering in the church and Paul tells the church to be supportive of them.

Philippians 4:3 "And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and [with] other my fellow laborers, whose names [are] in the book of life."

Acts 16:14 "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard [us]: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul."

“Lydia … the city of Thyatira”: Her home city was located in the Roman province of Lydia, thus the name “Lydia” was probably associated with her place of origin.

“Seller of purple”: Because purple dye was extremely expensive, purple garments were usually worn by royalty and the wealthy. As a result, Lydia’s business turned a nice profit, which enabled here to have a house large enough to accommodate the missionary team (verse 15), and the new church at Philippi (verse 40).

“Which worshipped God”: Like Cornelius, she believed in the God of Israel but had not become a full proselyte (10:2).

“Whose heart the Lord opened”: This is another proof of the sovereignty of God in salvation (see note on 13:48).

Paul’s first European convert was from the very province (Asia), where Paul had recently been forbidden to go (16:6).

“Thyatira” was one of the seven cities of the Roman province of Asia addressed (in Revelation chapters 2 and 3). It was situated over 50 miles northeast of Smyrna and about 30 miles southeast of Pergamum on the road from Pergamum to Laodicea. Thyatira was a busy commercial center famous for its purple cloth and “fine brass”: (bronze), works, especially armor.

Lydia was apparently a salesperson traveling hundreds of miles from her hometown. Archaeologists have uncovered many inscriptions at Thyatira revealing a more diversified manufacturing center here than among the more renowned cities like Ephesus or Smyrna.

These crafts included wool, linen, leather, bronze, dyeing, tanning and pottery. Thyatira today is called Akhisar (population 47,000).

It appears that the Holy Spirit sent Paul and the others to minister to Lydia and to start a church here in her home. It appears that Lydia worshipped God before Paul came, but after hearing the gospel message, received it with gladness in her heart.

Acts 16:15 "And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought [us], saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us."