MAY262025

In the Acts of the Apostles St. Luke makes a big deal about St. Paul’s leaving “Asia” (the country of Turkiye today) and entry into Europe. He describes the route that he and his companions took to arrive at Philippi, Greece, “a Roman city.” (The Romans established cities throughout the Empire with retired soldiers to provide secure areas of loyalty.) There he encountered Lydia, a “worshipper of God” (i.e. someone who as not Jewish but attracted to the worship of the one God instead of the pagan pantheon.) She was receptive to Paul’s preaching of the gospel and was baptized. Then she invited Paul to tsay with her. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us. While this might seem like simple hospitality it was a big deal for Paul and his fellow Jews. He was staying in a non-Kosher home. The entry into Europe, then, was the occasion for sharpening the distinction between the followers of orthodox Judaism and the early Christian movement.