During [the] night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis,
and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city.
Then, on the Sabbath day, we were walking outside the gate, beside a river, where there seemed to be a prayer gathering. And sitting down, we were speaking with the women who had assembled.
One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.
After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.
And verse 40
When they had come out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and then they left.
Steve Campbell
Former Member of Marble Collegiate Church
Author of Historical Accuracy, March 2021
Jesus is Decius Mundus (which is a reference to Decius Mus, 295 BCE).
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.4 referencing History of Rome, Books 8-10 by Livy
Re: Comment 4
The verses was the source of a sermon a pastor gave at my former church, Marble Collegiate Church.
The text is Acts and Acts is part of the Rest of the New Testament.
A dealer in purple cloth may relate to Roman senators and emperors.
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Yes, Roman senators wore togas with a purple stripe, specifically a broad purple stripe known as the latus clavus. This stripe, which was made from expensive Tyrian purple, was a mark of their senatorial status and was worn on a white toga. Only emperors were allowed to wear an all-purple toga.
Here’s why the purple stripe was significant:
Status Symbol:
Purple dye, especially Tyrian purple, was incredibly expensive and difficult to obtain, making it a powerful symbol of wealth and status, according to Archaeology Now.
Social Distinction:
The latus clavus, or broad purple stripe, was worn by senators, while magistrates, state priests, and even young boys before reaching adulthood also wore a purple stripe, known as the toga praetexta, according to Wikipedia.
Toga Praetexta:
This toga with the purple stripe was considered a formal costume, worn by various officials and individuals with special status, according to the University of Pennsylvania.
Toga Picta:
While senators wore a white toga with the purple stripe, the emperor wore an all-purple toga called the toga picta.
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Josephus mentions a Paul-like character who was seeking purple and gold.
These four men persuaded Fulvia, a woman of great dignity, and one who had embraced the Jewish religion, to send purple and gold to the Temple at Jerusalem. When the men had gotten the purple and gold, they employed them for their own uses and spent the money themselves (on which account it was that they at first required it of her). – Josephus
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And the soldiers led Jesus away into the hall (that is the Praetorium), and called the whole company of soldiers together.
They clothed him with purple …
Mark 15: 16 – 17
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When Josephus mentions Decius Mundus, it alludes to Decius Mus…
The pontiff bade him: don the purple-bordered toga and with veiled head, one hand thrust out from your toga and touching your chin, stand upon the spear laid under your feet and say…
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Steve Campbell
Author of Historical Accuracy, March 2021
Jesus is Decius Mundus (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.4)
referencing Decius Mus, 295 BCE (History of Rome, Books 8-10 by Livy)
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