Luke witnessed in the Acts of the Apostles, Paul receiving a vision at Troas, this vision that opened the door of personal salvation to Gentile women.
The vision Paul received called him to Macedonia, where at Philippi he sat down among women on the banks of the river. Paul shared the good news about Jesus and Lydia responded to his message and received Jesus into her heart, following this, she was baptised along with her household. Acts 16: 6-15.
It was by direct intervention by God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, that led to Paul receiving the vision at Troas. Paul and Silas were stopped by the Holy Spirit from speaking in Asia. They attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus stopped them. At Troas Luke joined Paul and Silas, he was in their company, when Paul during the night, saw a vision of a man beseeching him saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul concluded that God had called them to preach the gospel to them.
Paul, Silas and Luke sailed across to Samothrace, from there they made their way to Philippi, the leading city of that region. On the sabbath day they went to the riverside, where they expected to find a place of prayer and Luke records, “We sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a women called Lydia, from the city of Thyaura, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God.” Luke witnessed Lydia coming to faith in Jesus, “The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul.” Lydia was baptised with her whole household.”
Paul, I believe was responding to the vision, just as Peter did at Joppa. In Peter’s vision he saw a sheet full of unclean creatures, he was instructed to kill and eat them. Peter was appalled at the idea. But Peter responded when two men came to Joppa in search of him, because he discerned that God was calling him to go to Caesarea with the two men to the home of Centurion Cornelius who was a worshipper of God. Peter shared the good news about Jesus with Cornelius and his kinsmen, his friends and his household, and as he was telling them about Jesus they received the Holy Spirit and they were all baptised. Acts 10.
Lydia’s heart was opened by the word about Jesus that she received from Paul and Lydia was baptised along with her household.
God, by direct intervention through the vision, I believe God was indicating to Paul that Gentile women were equally receivers of salvation in the New Covenant in Christ.
Paul never mentioned Lydia in his letter to the church at Philippi, but he mentions working side by side with women as well as men. In his closing words Paul sends his love in Christ, to every Christian.
Despite this important encounter with the women at Philippi, Paul’s teaching in his letters kept women, Jews and Gentiles under traditional Judaism. Was this another reason why Jesus did not return within the lifetime of the apostles?