The first person whose life Christ changed in Philippi was Lydia. She was a successful business owner from Thyatira (modern Akhisar). This city in western Asia Minor was well-known for exporting fine fabrics, woven cloth, and linen items. Lydia accepted the gospel message, and Paul baptized her and her household (compare 16:32–33).
One of Lydia’s first actions as a true believer in the Lord was to extend hospitality to the visiting missionaries. Hospitality is an important Christian virtue (see Matthew 25:31–46; Romans 12:13; 16:23; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9; 3 John 1:5–8; compare Genesis 18:1–8; 19:1–3; 24:23–33).