Lydia's Conversion at Philippi
Acts 16:11-15
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Acts.16.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Αναχθεντες: PART,aor,pass,nom,pl,m
- ουν: CONJ
- απο: PREP
- Τρωαδος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ευθυδρομησαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- εις: PREP
- Σαμοθρακην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- επιουση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- Νεαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Πολιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 16:12 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same itinerary: after reaching Neapolis the narrative proceeds to Philippi, completing the port-to-city sequence begun in 16:11.
- Acts 16:8-10 (thematic): Earlier verses in the same scene describe the travel decisions and the Macedonian vision that explain why the party sailed from Troas into Europe, framing the Troas→Samothrace→Neapolis movement.
- Acts 20:5-13 (structural): Another travel episode that uses Troas as a coastal rendezvous and describes sea passages and landings; parallels Luke's pattern of nautical itinerary notes and short stopovers.
- Acts 27:6-12 (verbal): A later Acts passage with concentrated nautical vocabulary and detailed sailing movements; parallels Acts 16:11 in its concise reporting of ship movements and coastal navigation.
Alternative generated candidates
- So we put out to sea from Troas and made a direct crossing to Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis; and from there to Philippi, a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony.
- From Troas we put out to sea and made a direct run to Samothrace; on the next day we arrived at Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.
Acts.16.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κακειθεν: ADV
- εις: PREP
- Φιλιππους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- ητις: PRON,rel,nom,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- πρωτη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- μεριδος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Μακεδονιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- πολις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- κολωνια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ημεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,1,pl
- δε: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ταυτη: PRO,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- πολει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- διατριβοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- τινας: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 16:11 (verbal): Immediate travel itinerary—same journey from Troas through Samothrace and Neapolis that leads directly to Philippi (continuation of the travel narrative).
- Acts 16:9-10 (thematic): The Macedonian vision and call ('Come over to Macedonia') explain the mission move that results in Paul’s arrival at Philippi, the leading city of Macedonia.
- Acts 16:40 (structural): Follow-up to the Philippi episode: Paul and Silas are released and depart the city, completing the narrative arc that began with their stay in Philippi.
- Acts 17:1 (structural): Records the missionaries’ next movements after Philippi (passing Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica), linking Philippi into the broader travel sequence in Acts.
- Philippians 1:1 (allusion): Paul’s later epistle addresses the church at Philippi—the city identified in Acts 16:12—showing the long-term significance of this stay for the establishment of the Philippian congregation.
Alternative generated candidates
- We stayed there some days.
- We remained there for several days.
Acts.16.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- τε: CONJ
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- σαββατων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- εξηλθομεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- εξω: ADV
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πυλης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- παρα: PREP
- ποταμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- ενομιζομεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,1,pl
- προσευχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- καθισαντες: VERB,aor,act,ptcp,nom,pl,m
- ελαλουμεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,1,pl
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- συνελθουσαις: VERB,aor,act,ptcp,dat,pl,f
- γυναιξιν: NOUN,dat,pl,f
Parallels
- Acts 13:14 (structural): Paul and Barnabas go into the synagogue on the Sabbath to speak—parallel pattern of missionary activity tied to Sabbath gatherings.
- Acts 17:2 (thematic): Paul 'reasoned with them from the Scriptures' in the synagogue for three Sabbaths—echoes the practice of using Sabbath assemblies as venues for proclamation.
- Acts 18:4 (verbal): 'He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath'—verbal and functional parallel emphasizing Sabbath-speaking in Jewish worship contexts.
- Luke 4:16 (structural): Jesus' custom of attending the synagogue on the Sabbath provides the broader Lukan context for Sabbath gatherings as sites of teaching and proclamation.
- Luke 8:1-3 (thematic): Lists women who followed and ministered to Jesus—parallel to Acts 16:13's audience of gathered women and to the prominent role of women in early ministry.
Alternative generated candidates
- On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where it was customary to pray, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered.
- On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where it was thought there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered.
Acts.16.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- γυνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- Λυδια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- πορφυροπωλις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- πολεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Θυατειρων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- σεβομενη: VERB,pres,mid/pass,part,nom,sg,f
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ηκουεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- διηνοιξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- καρδιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- προσεχειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- λαλουμενοις: PART,pres,mid,dat,pl,m
- υπο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Παυλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 10:1-48 (esp. 10:34-48) (thematic): Cornelius is a God‑fearer/devout outsider who receives the gospel after divine initiative; like Lydia, a seeker opens to the message and a household comes to faith and is baptized.
- Luke 24:45 (verbal): Jesus 'opened' the disciples' minds to understand the Scriptures (Greek ἤνοιξεν), paralleling the language and theme of God opening Lydia's heart to receive Paul's words.
- Acts 8:26-40 (thematic): The Ethiopian eunuch, a foreign seeker attached to Jewish worship, encounters Philip, listens to explanation of Scripture, believes, and is baptized—paralleling Lydia as a God‑worshiper turned Christian through evangelistic instruction.
- Acts 16:30-34 (structural): The Philippian jailer (same city) experiences conversion and household baptism after hearing Paul's message—echoing Lydia's personal reception of the gospel and the establishment of a household/community of believers.
Alternative generated candidates
- One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God; the Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul.
- One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth and a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what Paul said.
Acts.16.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ως: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- εβαπτισθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οικος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αυτης: PRO,gen,sg,f
- παρεκαλεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- λεγουσα·Ει: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,f,sg
- κεκρικατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- πιστην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κυριω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- εισελθοντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οικον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- μενετε·και: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- παρεβιασατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
Parallels
- Acts 16:32-34 (thematic): Philippian jailer narrative: the jailer and his household believe, are baptized, and then host Paul and Silas (meal/hospitality), closely paralleling Lydia's household baptism and her invitation to the missionaries to stay.
- Acts 10:44-48 (thematic): Cornelius (a Gentile) and his household receive the Holy Spirit and are baptized; the episode, like Lydia's, links household conversion and baptism with the opening of the mission to Gentiles and attendant hospitality.
- Acts 18:8 (verbal): Crispus, the synagogue leader, believes and 'his household' is baptized—verbal and thematic parallel to Lydia's household baptism (similar phrasing and household conversion motif).
- Romans 16:5 (structural): Paul greets 'the church that meets in their house' (Prisca and Aquila), reflecting the early Christian practice of house churches and hospitality exemplified by Lydia's invitation to host the missionaries.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when she was baptized, and her household, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
- After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you judge me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
From Troas we set sail and made a direct crossing to Samothrace; on the following day we went on to Neapolis.
From there we traveled to Philippi, a leading city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in the city for several days.
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate beside the river, where it was customary to pray; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.
One who listened was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth and a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul said.
When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.' And she prevailed upon us.