And when she was baptized
In water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
according to the commission of Christ, by the apostle, or some
one of his companions; by whom she was instructed into the nature
and use of this ordinance; and very likely it was performed in
that river, by the side of which the oratory stood, where they
were assembled:
and her household;
they were baptized also, being converted at the same time; these
seem to be her menial servants, who came along with her from her
native place upon business, and who attended on her; accordingly
the Ethiopic version renders it, "and she was baptized with all
her men"; and these were believers, and are called "the
brethren", ( Acts 16:40 ) hence this
passage will by no means serve the cause of infant baptism:
whether Lydia was a maid, a wife, or widow, cannot be said; it
looks, however, as if she had no husband now, since she is
mentioned as a trader herself; and whether she had any children
or not, is not certain, nor can it be concluded from this clause,
for there are many households that have no children; and if she
had young children, it is not likely she should bring them with
her to such a distant place, whither she was come upon trade and
business: the pleaders for infant baptism must prove that she had
children; that these were her household, or part of her household
here spoken of; and that they were baptized; or this instance
will be of no service to their cause:
she besought us, saying, if ye have judged me to be
faithful to the
Lord;
this she said, not as doubting whether they had so judged of her,
but as supposing it, and taking it for granted, that they had;
wherefore she reasons upon it, and argues from it; and the sense
is this, that seeing the apostle and his company had judged her
to be a believer in Christ, by admitting her to the ordinance of
baptism; and she had shown her faithfulness to him, by submitting
to it, according to his will; therefore she earnestly entreated
them to take up their residence at her house, whilst at Philippi:
saying,
come into my house, and abide there;
her faith soon worked by love; and by the fruits of righteousness
which followed upon it, it appeared to be true and genuine: and
she constrained us; Paul and Silas, and Timothy and Luke, and
whoever else were in company; she not only invited them, but
obliged them to go with her; she would take no denial, and by her
arguments, entreaties, and importunity, as it were forced them,
and prevailed upon them to go with her.