Lydia was a seller of purple cloth who lived in Thyatira. In the Revised Korean Version, she is also recorded as a 'seller of purple'.
At that time, purple cloth was made with very expensive dyes and was worn by Roman nobles.
Therefore, it is presumed that Lydia was a considerably wealthy person.
Lydia was the first disciple Paul met when he began his first missionary journey to Europe. She was moved by Paul's preaching and urged them to stay in her home.
Acts 16:12From there we went to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, and a Roman colony. And we stayed in that city for some days.Acts 16:13On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.Acts 16:14One of 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.Acts 16:15When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Later, when Paul and Silas were imprisoned for healing a demon-possessed servant girl and then released, it appears that many brothers were praying at Lydia's house. Paul greeted them and then departed.
Acts 16:35When it was day, the magistrates sent their officers, saying, “Let those men go.”Acts 16:36And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.”Acts 16:37But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”Acts 16:38The officers reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.Acts 16:39So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.Acts 16:40So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.