Lydia

[Acts 16:13] And on the sabbath 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.
We meant Paul and Luke, speaking to the women a humble congregation, and simple manner of preaching. But here and thus were gathered the first-fruits of Europe unto Messiah, and they were of the female sex, of whose accession and services honorable mention will again and again be made.
[14] And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Lydia was a common name among the Greeks and Romans, and she was a merchant in purple was probably a seller of blue. The blue dye was derived from the gland of the sea snail, the purple from the gland of the sea mollusk, and the scarlet from the dried body of the female maggot. Purple dyes took over 85, 00 such snails to obtain one gram of dye. The best dye which did not fade or oxidize was taken from live mollusks or sea snails, which binds very tightly to wool and will not fade over time. The dye is extracted from a live snail, necessitating harvesting from the sea floor and immediately extracting the dye. Legend has it that the blue and purple dye was discovered when Hercules’ dog bit into a Murex snail on the shores of Tyre, leaving his mouth stained purple. Extracted, it is a clear, yellowish liquid, dibromindigo which is put into a reduced solution for vat dyeing wool. In the presence of sunlight, the spectrum causes the dibromindigo to debrominate to indigo. The shade of the resultant color is dependent upon the degree of exposure to ultraviolet light; therefore, on a cloudy day or in controlled sunlight, the color is more violet or purple while on a cloudless day, the color is sky blue.
Lydia came from the city of Thyatira which was on the confines of Lydia and Phrygia. The Lydians, particularly the inhabitants of Thyatira, were celebrated for their dyeing, in which they inherited the reputation of the Tyrians. This was a city of Lydia, in Asia Minor, now called Ak-hisar. The art of dying was particularly cultivated, as appears from an inscription found there.
She was worshiping woman; a proselyte to the Jewish faith. And when she attended to the things spoken it was showing that the inclination of the heart towards the truth originates not in the will of man. The first character to turn to the Gospel is a work of grace.
[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.
She was baptized apparently without any delay (2:41; 8:38). It was usual to be baptized immediately on believing before being taught. It is manifestly implied that they were baptized because she believed. It was the offering of her family to the Messiah. It is just such an account as would now be given of a household or family that were baptized on the faith of the parent.
She constrained them imply that they were reluctant, but were overborne by saying; “By the faith on the Messiah which you have recognized in me by baptism.” This was an instance of great hospitality, and also an evidence of her desire for further instruction in the doctrines of religion. There is a beautiful modesty in the expression.
She had an honest calling, which Luke notices to her praise. Yet though she had a calling to mind, she found time to improve advantages for her soul. It will not excuse us from religious duties, to say, we have a trade to mind; for have not we also a G-d to serve, and souls to look after? Religion does not call us from our business in the world, but directs us in it. Pride, prejudice, and sin shut out the truths of G-d, till His grace makes way for them into the understanding and affections; and G-d alone can open the heart to receive and believe His word. We must believe in Y’Shua HaMashiach; there is no coming to Father, in the New Covenant but by the Son as Mediator.