Acts 16:14

“And a certain woman, named Lydia, etc.] Whether this woman was a Jewess or a Gentile, is not certain, her name will not determine; she might be called so from the country of Lydia, which was in Asia minor, and where was Thyatira, her native place; Horace makes frequent mention of one of this name f800 and it might be a Jewish name; we read of R. Simeon ben Lydia f801; and as these seem to be Jewish women that met at this oratory, she might be one: a seller of purple; either of purple silks, much wore in the eastern countries; or of the purple dye, which in, “Then Judas returned to spoil the tents, where they got much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches.”…”

“Lydia--a common name among the Greeks and Romans. a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira--on the confines of Lydia and Phrygia. The Lydians, particularly the inhabitants of Thyatira, were celebrated for their dyeing, in which they inherited the reputation of the Tyrians. Inscriptions to this effect, yet remaining, confirm the accuracy of our historian. This woman appears to have been in good circumstances, having an establishment at Philippi large enough to accommodate the missionary party (Act 16:15), and receiving her goods from her native town. which worshipped God--that is, was a proselyte to the Jewish faith, and as such present at this meeting. whose heart the Lord opened--that…”

“A seller of purple - Purple was a most valuable color, obtained usually from shellfish. It was chiefly worn by princes and by the rich, and the traffic in it might be very profitable. Compare the Isaiah 1:18 note; Luke 16:19 note. The city of Thyatira - This was a city of Lydia, in Asia Minor, now called Akhisar. The art of dyeing was early cultivated in the neighborhood of Thyatira, as we learn from Homer (Iliad, iv. 141), and as is confirmed by inscriptions found in that city - a circumstance which may be referred to as confirming the veracity of the statements of Luke even in his casual allusions. Several of these inscriptions have been published. See the Life and Epistles of Paul, i.…”

“A worshipper of God - Probably acquainted with the prophetic writings whose heart the Lord opened - The Greek word properly refers to the opening of the eyes: and the heart has its eyes, Eph 1:18. These are closed by nature and to open them is the peculiar work of God. Acts 16:15”

“16:14-15 The first person changed by Christ in Philippi was Lydia, a successful businesswoman from Thyatira (modern Akhisar), a city of western Asia Minor famous for its woolen fabrics, weavers, and linens. Lydia responded to the message and she and her household were baptized (cp. 16:32-33). • One of Lydia’s first acts as a true believer in the Lord was to extend hospitality to the visiting missionaries. Hospitality is an important Christian virtue (Matt 25:31-46; Rom 12:13; 16:23; 1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:8; Heb 13:2; 1 Pet 4:9; 3 Jn 1:5-8; cp. Gen 18:1-8; 19:1-3; 24:23-33).”

“Lydia: Act 16:40 Thyatira: Rev 1:11, Rev 2:18-24 worshipped: Act 8:27, Act 10:2, Act 18:7; Joh 12:20 whose: Act 11:21; Psa 110:3; Sol 5:4; Isa 50:5; Luk 24:45; Joh 6:44, Joh 6:45; Rom 9:16; Co1 3:6, Co1 3:7; Co2 3:14-16, Co2 4:4-6; Eph 1:17, Eph 1:18; Phi 2:13; Jam 1:16, Jam 1:17; Rev 3:7, Rev 3:20 Acts 16:15”