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state of immunity from taxation as belonged to Italy itself (Hoeck's Romische
Geschehte). With these things in mind, the reader will realize that the passage in
Phil. 3:, which speaks of "our citizenship" being "in heaven" (verse 20) would mean
much more to those who received the letter than is immediately obvious from the words
used.
The fact that Philippi was a military centre would account for the smallness of the
Jewish population, and also for the presence of Lydia of Thyatira, "a seller of purple".
Thyatira had been famous from early days for the purple dye which was made there, from
the shells of a mollusk commonly known as Tyrian Purpura. Homer mentions the purple
dye of Lydia in the Iliad:
"And as by Lydian or by Carian maid
The purple dye is on the ivory laid" (Iliad 4: 141).
An inscription has also been found in the ruins of Thyatira, bearing the title
"The Dyers".
To return to the narrative itself--upon arrival at Philippi, the apostles did not at once
begin to preach, for we read that they "abode certain days". Then apparently, when the
Sabbath day came, having already discovered that there was no synagogue in the city:
"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" (Acts 16: 13).
True to the dispensational character of the time, the Apostle keeps literally to the
principle of "the Jew first" (Rom. 1: 16) and waits until the Sabbath day. Finding no
synagogue, and knowing the customs of his people, he turns to the river-side and finds
there a place where "prayer was wont to be made". The word in the original is
proseuche, and we learn from contemporary writers that this was an enclosure of circular
shape, open to the sky, and near a river or the sea, because of the ablutions necessary in
Jewish worship. Josephus records a number of decrees that were made by different rulers
in connection with this custom. The following is one short extract:
"We have decreed, that as many men and women of the Jews as are willing so to do,
may celebrate their Sabbaths, and perform their holy offices, according to the Jewish
laws; and make their proseuchae at the seaside, according to the customs of their
forefathers; and if any one, whether he be a magistrate or a private person, hindereth
them from so doing, he shall be liable to a fine, to be applied to the uses of the city"
(Ant. Bk. 14: 10, 23).
Why only women are said to have resorted to this place of prayer is unexplained, but,
whatever the reason, one can well imagine what a rebuff this reception would be to any
false pride. However, the Apostle and his companions were led of the Lord, and were
apparently willing to walk in His way. One at least of the women who listened would
have caused the Apostle and his fellow-workers to exchange understanding glances.
They had been forbidden to speak the word in Asia, and had traveled across the sea to
preach to the men of Macedonia, and now, to their surprise and joy, their first convert is