“Seller of Purple”

Lydia lived in Philippi, the principal city of Macedonia. However, she was from Thyatira, a city of the region of Lydia, in western Asia Minor. For this reason some suggest that “Lydia” was a nickname given to her in Philippi. In other words, she was “the Lydian,” much as the woman to whom Jesus Christ witnessed could be called “the Samaritan woman.” (John 4:9) Lydia sold “purple” or articles colored with this dye. (Acts 16:12, 14) The existence of dyemakers both in Thyatira and in Philippi is attested to by inscriptions unearthed by archaeologists. It is possible that Lydia had moved because of her job, either to carry on her own business or as a representative of a company of Thyatiran dyers.

Purple dye could come from various sources. The most expensive was extracted from certain kinds of marine mollusks. According to the first-century Roman poet Martial, a cloak of the best purple of Tyre (another center where this substance was produced) could cost up to 10,000 sesterces, or 2,500 denarii, the equivalent of a laborer’s pay for 2,500 days. Clearly, such garments were luxury items that only a few could afford. So Lydia may have been well-off economically. In any case, she was able to offer hospitality to the apostle Paul and his companions—Luke, Silas, Timothy, and perhaps others.

“A Worshiper of God”

Lydia was “a worshiper of God,” but she probably was a proselyte to Judaism in search of religious truth. Though she had a good job, Lydia was not materialistic. Rather, she reserved time for spiritual matters. “Jehovah opened her heart wide to pay attention to the things being spoken by Paul,” and Lydia accepted the truth. In fact, “she and her household got baptized.”—Acts 16:14, 15.