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`It may, I think, be gathered from St. Luke's narrative, that her social position was higher in this country
than in most parts of the civilised world. At Philippi, at Thessalonica, at Berea, the women - in some cases
certainly, in all cases probably, ladies of birth and rank - take an active part with the apostle (Acts 16:13;
17:4,12. It forms moreover a striking coincidence, and surely an undesigned coincidence, between the history
and the epistle, that while in the former the gospel is related to have been first preached to women, and the
earlier converts specially mentioned are women, in the latter we find the peace of the Philippian Church
endangered by the feuds of two ladies of influence, whose zealous aid in the spread of the gospel the apostle
gratefully acknowledges' (Phil. 4:2).
There are no accidents in Divine providence. It was peculiarly fitting that this new departure should be
associated with a `colony', a miniature Rome, and it is also suggestive, in view of the emancipating and enlightening
doctrine, that the first to receive the gospel were women, and not men.
In verse 14 we read that Lydia's heart was `opened' and in the following verse we find her home opened also.
The words `She constrained us' suggest that the apostle did not readily accept her invitation. We know, however,
that he fully acknowledged the right of every servant of the Lord to be maintained, at least, by those to whom he
ministered; and he also declared that it would have been quite right for him to have been accompanied by a wife, or
a sister in the Lord, but these privileges he had foregone lest his sincerity should be called in question.
The only other occurrence of the word translated `constrained' here is Luke 24:29, where the Lord `made as
though He would have gone further' (verse 28). Lydia's trade would have demanded a considerable capital, and she
may, therefore, have been a woman of means. The apostles would be grateful indeed to the Lord, Who had gone
before, preparing a place for them, and raising up helpers who were willing to use their material possessions for the
furtherance of the gospel.
Satan's Attempt at Compromise, and Paul's Refusal
(Acts 16:16-18)
If, speaking humanly, the reception which the apostle received at Philippi was humbling to the flesh, subsequent
events at the same city show how impossible it is to foresee what may be the sequel to a genuine call to preach in
any particular place. One might be pardoned for expecting that, with the two closed doors in Asia and Bithynia, and
the vision of the man of Macedonia, Philippi would have proved to be a place where great gatherings assembled to
hear the Word, and converts were numbered by the hundred. A little experience, however, would modify these
expectations, and the presence and persistence of an active enemy would be kept in mind. If Troas proved to be an
open door, the apostle's added words: `And there are many adversaries', most certainly fitted the situation. The first
test encountered by the apostles was that of the out-of-the-way meeting place by the river side, and the fact that only
some women were present. This was faithfully met, the situation accepted, and the Word preached. One heart was
opened, and a household baptized, so that the first encounter was a victory for faith. What will be the next move on
the part of the opposition? Instead of creating a disturbance and getting the apostle expelled from the city, the
enemy of truth changes his tactics and attempts to compromise the purity of the gospel. If Balaam cannot curse
Israel, he will involve them in evil associations, and we have the testimony of Revelation 2 that this method will be
repeated at the time of the end. It is a method of attack to which every faithful minister of the truth is peculiarly
susceptible. Only those who have walked alone for years, because of the demands of the faith, can have any
conception of the strength of the temptation to join up with this or that, so that the stigma of isolation and peculiarity
may be removed. To capitulate, however, means a life's work shipwrecked; and we can see this drama enacted for
our learning in the remainder of the section dealing with Philippi.
`And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which
brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: the same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are
the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this she did many days. But
Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.
And he came out the same hour' (Acts 16:16-18).