Resources/Articles
Lydia's Conversion
We find the conversion of Lydia in Acts 16.13-15. As we examine her conversion, we find the same pattern as in all previous cases of conversion. Her conversion involved her “calling upon the name of the Lord.” She had to do this in order to be saved, as the prophecy made by Joel (and quoted by the apostle Peter in Acts 2.21) was now fulfilled in Jesus. All who come to the Lord must call upon his name.
Previously in the book of Acts, we have found people who were religious, devout, and praying individuals. But upon hearing the good news of the salvation through Jesus, they responded in the following manner: They believed that Jesus was now Lord and Christ (Acts 2.36). They repented of their past sins because Jesus commanded repentance to be in his name (Luke 24.47). They confessed Jesus to be the Son of God (Acts 8.37; Romans 10.9-10). They were immersed in water, for Jesus had commanded everyone to be buried in the likeness of his death (Romans 6.4-5). This was the form of doctrine (Romans 6.17-18) proclaimed and obeyed in the book of Acts. This was the pattern of “calling upon his name” (Matthew 28.18-20; Mark 16.15-16); Luke 24.44-49).
We will find this to be true in the story of Lydia’s conversion. First, notice what description of her is given prior to her hearing of Jesus. It is said that she worshipped God. This indicates that she was a religious person. Even though she was religious, since the prophecy of Joel was fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ, she needed to “call upon” Jesus’ name in order to be saved from her sins (Acts 4.12). Salvation through Christ was preached to Lydia. They “spake unto the woman…whose heart the Lord had opened, that she attended not the things which were spoken of Paul.” We find that her heart was “opened” through he words she heard. The result was that Lydia “attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” Lastly we see that she and her household were baptized. All of these statements help us to understand how she “called upon” the name of the Lord.
Consider this: In opening her heart, did the Lord overpower Lydia’s will and force her to submit to the words of Paul? Is this what God does in conversion? What do the facts reveal?
Notice the effects of her heart being opened. She “attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” We know that Paul spoke of their need to be baptized because the text says, “And when she was baptized, and her household…” We know that this was, in part, what was involved in “attending to” the things spoken by Paul. If we reject the possibility that the apostle Paul spoke to her of her need to be baptized, how do we answer as to why she “attended” to this matter in this way? How else would she have learned of baptism? The text demands that we conclude on thing only: Paul preached baptism to her. He spoke, she heard and believed his words. Evidence of her belief is seen by her doing as instructed by Paul (“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word fo God” - Romans 10.17).
We might ask also, “For what purpose was she (and her household) baptized?” The New Testament is consistent and clear as to the purpose of baptism:
- Romans 6.3-5 - Baptism is for the purpose of an unsaved person undergoing a burial in the planting in the likeness of Christ’s death. For this reason, baptism is a part of the new birth (John 3.3-5).
- Galatians 3.27 - In baptism, one “puts on” Christ.
- Acts 22.16 - Sins are said to be “washed away” by baptism in water.
- 1 Peter 3.21 - Water baptism is said to be a “like figure” of salvation, as was the water that saved eight souls in the days of Noah. Water, in some way, “saved” Noah’s family. In whatever way it saved them, it saves all today in a “like figure.”
However, much present-day preaching varies from the New Testament as to the purpose for baptism. Let us now notice what the Bible does not say about the purpose of baptism:
- The Bible does not say that baptism is to be performed on a person who is already saved.
- Baptism is never said to be a church ordinance to be performed upon some who were saved at the point of their faith, for no one is saved by faith alone. “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2.24-26). Justification involves man being obedient to Jesus’ commands as preached by the apostles. Man does not “call upon the name of the Lord” apart from obedience, for Jesus commanded all to submit to his authority.
Lydia was immersed in water because Paul commanded her to do soThat is the only conclusion any honest inquirer can reach. Paul preached the same message to her that Peter preached to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost. She obeyed from her heart that form of doctrine delivered to her, as did the Romans (Romans 6.17-18). The Lord opened her heart in the same way that everyone’s heart is opened: Through the preaching of the word of God.
