Acts 16:15 Meaning and Explanation
“And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Lydia and her household are baptized, and she prevails on the missionaries to make her house their home.
What Does Acts 16:15 Mean?
Faith moves straight to action: Lydia is baptized, and her household with her. Then she presses her plea: if they judge her faithful to the Lord, let them lodge under her roof. She will not be refused, and her house becomes the gathering place of the church in Philippi (v. 40).
New faith shows itself in open doors. Lydia's first recorded act as a believer is generosity: her home, her table, and her standing in the city are placed at the service of the gospel. The church that would one day support Paul so faithfully (Philippians 4:15-16) learned its giving first from her.
Acts 16:15 in the Original Language
parabiazomai (παραβιάζομαι), 'constrained' -- to urge with friendly insistence, the word used when the Emmaus disciples pressed Jesus to stay in Luke 24:29.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 16:15
What does Acts 16:15 mean?
Lydia and her household are baptized, and she prevails on the missionaries to make her house their home.