• Acts 16:14
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 14 καί And τις some γυνὴ woman ὀνόματι to name Λυδία, Lydia, πορφυρόπωλις seller of purple πόλεως of city Θυατείρων Thyatira σεβομένη venerating τὸν the θεόν, God, ἤκουεν, was hearing, ἧς of whom ὁ the κύριος Lord διήνοιξεν opened wide τὴν the καρδίαν heart προσέχειν to be paying attention τοῖς to the (things) λαλουμένοις being spoken ὑπὸ by Παύλου. Paul.

  • Acts 16:14
    The Bible in Living English

    • 14 And there was a certain woman named Lydia listening, a dealer in Turkey-red cloth from the city of Thyatira, a religious-minded person, whose heart the Lord opened to mark what Paul was saying.

  • Acts 16:14
    American Standard Version

    • 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.

  • Acts 16:14
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 14 And a certain woman by name Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, devout towards God was hearkening, whose heart the Lord fully opened to be giving heed unto the things being spoken by Paul.

  • Acts 16:14
    King James Version

    • 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.

  • Acts Study Notes—Chapter 16
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 16:14

      a woman named Lydia: Lydia is named only twice in the Bible, here and at Ac 16:40. There is documentary evidence to show that Lydia was used as a proper name, though some believe that Lydia was a nickname meaning “Lydian Woman.” Lydia and her household became Christians about 50 C.E. in Philippi, so they were among the first individuals in Europe to embrace Christianity as a result of Paul’s preaching. Lydia​—who possibly never married or was a widow​—had a generous spirit that enabled her to enjoy rewarding association with missionaries Paul, Silas, and Luke.​—Ac 16:15.

      a seller of purple: Lydia may have traded in purple goods of various kinds, including purple fabric, clothing, tapestries, dyes, or other items. She was originally from Thyatira, a city of western Asia Minor in the region called Lydia. An inscription found in Philippi testifies to the presence of a guild of sellers of purple in that city. The Lydians and their neighbors were famed for their skill in the dyeing of purple since the days of Homer (ninth or eighth century B.C.E.). Since Lydia’s trade required substantial capital and she had a large house capable of hosting four men​—Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke​—in all likelihood she was a successful and wealthy merchant. The reference to “her household” could mean that she lived with relatives, but it could also imply that she had slaves and servants. (Ac 16:15) And the fact that before leaving the city, Paul and Silas met with some brothers in this hospitable woman’s home suggests that it became a meeting place for the first Christians in Philippi.​—Ac 16:40.

      Jehovah opened her heart wide: Lydia is identified as a worshipper of God, an expression that suggests that she was a Jewish proselyte. (Ac 13:43) On the Sabbath, she had gathered with other women at a place of prayer at a river outside Philippi. (Ac 16:13) It may be that there were few Jews and no synagogue in Philippi. Lydia may have become acquainted with the worship of Jehovah in her home city, Thyatira, which had a large Jewish population and a Jewish meeting place. Jehovah, the God whom she worshipped, noticed that she was listening attentively.​—See App. C3 introduction; Ac 16:14.