Lydia of Thyatira, Coworker of the Apostle Paul
Eternal God, who gives good gifts to all people, and who
grants the spirit of generosity: Give us, we pray you, hearts always open to
hear your word, that, following the example of your servant Lydia, we may show
hospitality to those who are in any need or trouble; through Jesus Christ our
Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen.
The Acts of the Apostles says this about Lydia, “We set sail
from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, 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 for some days. On the
sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was
a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered
there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us;
she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened
her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her
household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be
faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us.”
