Here the Apostle and his companions stayed _some days_ (Acts xvi. 12). Being a military and not a mercantile city, the number of Jews here was small, and consequently there was no synagogue. There was, however, a Proseucha, _a House or Place of Prayer_, a slighter[971] and more temporary structure than the regular places of Jewish worship, outside the gate[972], on the banks of the Gaggitas, the fountains of which gave the ancient name to the city[973]. Those who met here for worship consisted chiefly of women (Acts xvi. 13), and amongst them was one, named Lydia, a proselytess[974] (Acts xvi. 14) of Thyatira[975] (Rev. i. 11), a town in proconsular Asia, famous ever since the days of Homer for its dyed goods, for the reception of which she had an establishment at Philippi. On the Sabbath the newly-arrived strangers joined the little company by the river-side, and sitting down[976] in the attitude of teachers, spoke to the women there assembled. Lydia was an earnest listener, _and the Lord opened her heart, so that she gave heed to the word spoken by Paul_, and together with her household was admitted into the Church by baptism, probably in the waters of the stream that flowed by the _Proseucha_. Thus the Gospel found a lodgment in Europe, and Lydia, grateful for _the spiritual things_, which the Apostle had ministered unto her, was anxious to minister to him and his companions of her _temporal things. Since ye have deemed me a believer in the Lord_, said she, _come into my house, and there abide_. She would take no refusal, and Paul and the rest accepted her offer of hospitality. At no great distance from Philippi[977] was an oracle of Dionysus, the prophet-god of the Thracians. Thence, or from some similar establishment, there came a damsel _possessed with the spirit of divination_[978], who had been hired by certain Philippian citizens, and brought much gain to her owners by her soothsaying (Acts xvi. 16). Meeting the little company of Christians as they went to and fro from the Proseucha, she followed Paul crying out, _These men are the servants of the most High God, who are come to announce unto you the way of salvation_. This continued many days. At length grieved that this testimony should be borne by one possessed with an evil spirit, Paul turned, and in the name of his Divine Master commanded the evil spirit to leave her, whereupon the word of power was instantly obeyed, and the damsel was restored to her right mind (Acts xvi. 18).