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?
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."
