Acts 16:14

"And. certain woman named Lydia,. seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul"Lydia" (LID ih uh). The fact this she is said to be the "seller" of purple, and the household referred to is said to belong to her (Acts 16:15), seems to suggest that she was carrying on this business by herself. "Seller of purple" "A most valuable color, obtained usually from shell-fish. One tiny drop of dye was obtained from each fish. Whether Lydia sold the dye, or the fabric was already dyed, is not certain. Concerning the fabric, when dyed with this purple dye--there was. great demand for it among the rich, for it was used as the official toga at Rome. The term royal purple is still used" (Reese p. 577). "As purple was. very costly dye, it was used on none but costly goods" (McGarvey p. 88). Considering the expensive dye or material she retailed it would seem to indicate that she was. woman of wealth. "Of the city of Thyatira" (thigh uh TIE ruh).. city of the province of Lydia in western Asia Minor, situated on the road from Pergamos to Sardis. "One that worshipped God" The above expression applies to one who was. proselyte of the gate. "Believing and behaving like. Jew without becoming one" (Stott p. 263). "Whose heart the Lord opened"

Seeing that the Bible claims that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16), we must interpret the above expression as meaning that God opened her heart through Paul's preaching. Carefully note, the text does not say that God opened her heart to "listen" to what Paul was saying, for she was listening already (Acts 16:14). Rather Paul's preaching the Word of God convicted her to the point that she "gave heed", that is obeyed and applied what he was saying. According to the Calvinistic doctrine often known as "a first work of grace", "direct operation of the Holy Spirit" or "irresistible grace"..."man is so totally depraved as. result of inheritance from Adam, that he cannot even want to do right (respond to the Gospel in this case) until God's Spirit first, by an immediate and direct action on the heart of the sinner, makes the man capable or able to believe" (Reese pp. 577-578). But the above verses (which are supposedly some of the best evidence for the above doctrine) are far from teaching such. Remember Lydia is. very religious person prior to the above statement. She already believes in God and wants to do the right thing, despite the adverse circumstances, long before the Lord opens her heart. In fact McGarvey notes, "she was faithful in observing it (the Sabbath); that while the other dealers in purple goods were busy on that day, she closed her shop regardless of the demands of competition" (p. 89). She did not need any miraculous help to listen to Paul's preaching. God opened her heart in the sense that it was His message that convicted her and moved her to obey the gospel. This opening of her heart involved her cooperation (Matthew 13:15).