April 21, 2023 – Friday
Acts 16:15 NIV
15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:15 NET
15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:15 NASB
15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.” And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:15 KJV
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
Comments
If you are wondering why the four different versions it is to show the unity in the NIV, NET, and the NASB concerning the word persuaded while the KJV, and others, have constrained. Also the use of the phrase believer in the Lord versus faithful to the Lord.
But first some background for this verse. Paul and his companions (including Luke now) ended up in Philippi, a major city in that area of Macedonia. They all stayed there for several days. Then in the next two verses we read, 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.Thus, it was Lydia from Thyatira who was baptized along with all those with her. Paul would have normally gone to a synagogue, but there was not a synagogue in Philippi presumably because there was not the minimal number of Jewish men there to establish a synagogue – ten.
Also note the city she was from, Thyatira. There is no further mention of this city at all until you get to the book of Revelation. There it is listed as one of the seven churches in 1:11 and is addressed directly in 2:18-29. The point is that Lydia and those with her took back the good news of Jesus the Christ and likely helped start a church there. The message here is that when one heart is changed, it can result in all kinds of changes or even a church being established that has the attention of Jesus.
Now, let’s look at our verse for today, 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. We now know it was Lydia and she was from Thyatira and a trader in purple cloth – an entrepreneur if you will. The word believer is defined as Trustworthy, faithful, believing in the Lord. When it says she persuaded us remember she was a trader and like Paul was used to persuading others. The definition given for the Greek word parebiasatod translated as persuaded is defined as to urge, press, constrain by entreaties so we can see where the KJV gotc constrained in its translation.
Bottom Line: When you are persuaded a believer is really a brother or sister, do not be afraid to fellowship with them. Paul’s culture would have been opposed to their staying in her home in Philippi, yet he did and eventually a church was born in Thyatira.
Prayer: Almighty God, What wonderful encouragement You have given us in these few verses to fellowship with brothers or sisters we otherwise might not have done so. Thank You. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek