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Honest, industrious people, when converted, become noble and useful Christians. This first European convert was of such a character as to be especially susceptible to gospel influences.

I. HER CHARACTER. She was industrious, reliable, conscientious, generous, devout. Observe —

1. Her name — "Lydia." As no mention is made of her husband, probably she was a widow. Learn how right relationship to Jesus Christ gives immortality to the humblest name.

2. Her native place — "Thyatira," in Asia Minors situated about midway between Pergamos and Sardia; it is still a town of some size, though now in the hands of the Turks. She was not a Jew but a Gentile proselyte, having given up the worship of idols for that of the true God. Learn what great blessings may grow out of a little prayer meeting, and the wisdom of laying down the yard stick and closing the store in order to be present.

II. HER CONVERSION. It was brought about —

1. By human instrumentality, "us" — Paul and Silas. Probably, an informal meeting, and that both preachers not only prayed but conversed publicly and personally with those present.

2. Contact with the truth — "Heard us." It is the truth that saves — "Truth shall make you free." Revelation brings life. The preacher can communicate power only through His message. Discourses and essays on ethics, science, and politics may interest and instruct, but it is only the Divine message that can save from the guilt, dominion, and consequences of sin. "Heard us." It used to be almost literally true that faith cometh only "by hearing." Books and the ability to read them were very scarce in ancient times, so that much of men's knowledge of this world, and especially of the world to come, was gathered through the ear. "Heard us." Even now faith cometh chiefly by hearing. But in the case of Lydia the message came through the ear. "Heard us."

3. By prompt action — "She attended unto the things which were spoken." She was an admirable hearer. She laid hold of the truth, and thus the truth laid hold of her. Then she at once began to practise the truth she had just heard. She did not modify it by theorising or waste its force by delay. "She attended to the things spoken."

4. Through Divine interposition. "Whose heart the Lord opened." Why did He not open her head? God wanted this woman to feel as well as understand. There are some truths which first enter the intellect and then sink into the heart, but the profound, life-giving truths of Christianity enter the heart first and then rise to the intellect. They first give life and then light. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." Not the light was the life, but the life was the light of men. A man must be born before he can see; he must be alive before he can know. First life, then light. The opening of the heart was —

(1) Gradual. Gradual in that she so honestly followed the light she had. God had so opened her heart before this that all the idols of heathenism left in it a great "aching void." "In common with the best spirits of her age she felt paganism to be a failure and a sham, and longed for something more solid and satisfying." She therefore embraced Judaism, and so we find her at prayer meeting, still going on to know the Lord.

(2) Complete, in that God personally helped her to apprehend and personally appropriate the broader, grander, life-giving truths of the gospel.

(Thomas Kelly.)

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KJV: 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.

WEB: On the Sabbath day we went forth outside of the city by a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down, and spoke to the women who had come together.