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Paul in Greece · Stop 2 · Day 1
St Lydia's baptistery
In the Bible
On the Sabbath Paul spoke to women at a place of prayer by the river outside the gate; Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from Thyatira, was baptized with her household.
Acts 16:13–15
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there. Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.Tradition
By tradition, Lydia was baptized at this stream west of the old city; scholars also suggest other spots along the rivers nearby.
Here today
A modern church of St Lydia and an open-air baptistery with stone seats beside the stream; groups often read Acts 16 here.
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Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).