Lydia

Lydia was a God-fearing Greek woman, originally from Thyatira. She was a seller of purple textiles. During Paul’s second missionary journey in Philippi, in the Roman province of Macedonia, he went out- side of Philippi’s walls by the river where a group of women had gathered for prayer on the Sabbath. Paul spoke to them about Jesus Christ, and Lydia became a believer. She is considered to be the first Christian in Europe, and the first woman mentioned in the Bible to be water-baptized. Paul and his fellow coworkers stayed at Lydia’s home until they departed for Thessalonica (Acts 16:13-15).