Acts 16:12-15

The conversion of Lydia

From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district

of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and

began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a

woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a

worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she

and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house."

And she persuaded us.

Notice the Scripture says that Lydia responded to Paul’s message. What must have been part of Paul’s message? Well, she responded to his message by being baptized, so Paul’s message had to include the topic of baptism! --And being baptized is equated with belief.

Notice also, that Lydia’s response to the preaching of the kingdom of God was identical to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40 and the Samaritans in Acts 8:5,12. They all responded by being baptized. If baptism is when our sins are forgiven and we become saved, baptism absolutely has to be part of the message of the kingdom of God! And this is why baptism always has been part of the message of the good news!

This page last updated: June 16, 2002