GetWisdom PaperturnSampler FINAL SinglePages - Flipbook - Page 92
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LIVING FOR WHAT REALLY MATTERS
To find our answer to this question, we’ll need to back up and
learn a little about the city itself.
History Lesson
When they were attacked by Thracians, the inhabitants of this
city, previously known as Krenides, sought protection from
Philip II of Macedon (the father of Alexander the Great!). Knowing the land was rich in gold, Philip responded by capturing
the city himself circa 357 BCE (so much for looking to Philip for
help!) and renamed it Philippi.
Years later, after Mark Antony and Octavian took revenge
on Julius Caesar’s assassins, Brutus and Cassius, Philippi
become a military outpost and Roman colony. Because the city
teemed with Roman troops, it was often referred to as “little
Rome.”10
Self-governing and independent, Philippi was a bit of a melting
pot. Because no synagogue existed, we know that not even ten Jewish
males resided within the city limits. But, as Paul and his friends knew,
when a city did not have a synagogue, those who loved God would
meet by the river to pray and worship.
Lydia was likely a Gentile who had heard of the incredible name
of Jesus (John 12:20 shows that news of Jesus’ miraculous healings
had begun spreading to the people of Greece). She’s the only woman
named in this passage, so it’s likely that although she had never met
Jesus and had never been formally taught the gospel, she was leading
the meeting.
Isn’t it interesting that we don’t hear of any men at this prayer
meeting, and yet Luke (the author of Acts) says, “We sat down and
spoke to the women who had come together” (Acts 16:13)? In those
days, Jewish men and women didn’t worship together. They even had
different sections in the synagogue. Once again, however, we see that
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