Acts 16:6–15

Evangelization of Europe

⁶They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia. ^r7When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus ^sdid not allow them. ⁸So, bypassing Mysia, they came down to Troas. ^t9During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!” ^u10After ^vhe had seen the vision, we ^wimmediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.

Lydia’s Conversion

¹¹Then, setting sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, ¹²and from there to Philippi, ^xa Roman colony, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for a number of days. ¹³On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. ¹⁴A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul. ^y15After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” ^zAnd she persuaded us.