Several Wonderful Women in the Bible: Their Role in Spreading the Gospel

In Acts 16:6-15, Paul and his companions are out on a mission trip, trying to spread the gospel, but things aren’t going exactly according to plan. They keep running into roadblocks—closed doors here and there. But then, Paul has this vision of a man from Macedonia, practically begging, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So, naturally, Paul and his team hop on a boat, trusting that this vision is God’s way of directing them.

When they land in Philippi, they discover something unexpected. No grand temple or bustling synagogue to preach in—just a small group of women gathering by the river to pray. Now, it’s not exactly the audience Paul might’ve imagined. But there they are, a handful of women, and these women would be the ones who first responded to the gospel in this region. Among them is Lydia, a wealthy businesswoman who sells purple cloth, which was the luxury item of the time. In Acts 16:14, it says, “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” Now, let’s pause for a second. Imagine Lydia, listening to Paul’s message, and suddenly her heart is opened. She doesn’t just hear the gospel and nod along—she responds in faith, immediately inviting Paul and his team into her home. There’s no hesitation, no “Let me think about it,” just a joyful acceptance of what she’s just heard. And, not only does she believe, but her whole household gets baptized right there. Her home becomes the launching pad for the first church in Philippi.

Isn’t that incredible? Here’s a group of women, not only welcoming the gospel but opening their homes to the message of Christ. Lydia, with her purple cloth business and big heart, doesn’t just sit back and take it in. She’s active, involved, and she becomes a leader in spreading the gospel to others. Can you just imagine the joy in that moment? The river was peaceful, the sun was probably shining, and Lydia’s heart was open to something new and beautiful.

When we think about how Yeshua worked with women, there’s also a lot of joy and surprise. Take the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. Yeshua breaks through cultural and social norms by even talking to her. She’s an outsider, a woman with a troubled past, and yet Yeshua takes the time to have a deep conversation with her. When He reveals to her that He is the Messiah, she’s so overjoyed that she runs back to her town in John 4:28-29, shouting, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” And guess what happens? Many people from the town come to see Yeshua, and they believe because of her testimony! How’s that for a surprise? A woman, someone the world might’ve ignored, becomes the first evangelist in that town, sharing the message of Jesus with joy and excitement.

And then, there’s Mary Magdalene, who, in John 20:16, is the first to see Yeshua after His resurrection. Think of the joy and awe she must’ve felt! After everything that had happened, the crucifixion, the pain, the loss—and then, there He is, standing in front of her, alive! Yeshua doesn’t reveal Himself first to the disciples; He reveals Himself to Mary, and He sends her to be the first to announce His resurrection to the others. Talk about a joyful moment—Mary gets to bring the best news ever to the disciples! “He’s risen! He’s alive!” It’s almost as if God had a sense of humor, choosing a woman who had been through so much, someone who’d been healed by Yeshua, to carry the most important message in history.

Yeshua always had a way of surprising people, especially when it came to women. Think about the time in Luke 7:37-38, when a woman, a sinner, comes to Yeshua while He’s eating at a Pharisee’s house. She washes His feet with her tears and dries them with her hair. The Pharisees are horrified, but Yeshua turns it into a beautiful teaching moment. He says in Luke 7:47, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” It’s a moment of grace, joy, and forgiveness. Yeshua shows how love and gratitude are the true signs of faith, and that joy comes from the healing and grace He offers.

Let’s not forget Mary, the sister of Martha, who, in Luke 10:39, sits at Yeshua’s feet while He teaches. Martha, busy with all the preparations, asks Yeshua to tell Mary to help her. But Yeshua gently says that Mary has chosen the “better part” by sitting and listening. It’s a simple moment, but it speaks volumes about the joy of just being with Him. In a world full of distractions and tasks, sometimes the most joyful thing we can do is sit and listen to what He has to say.

What we see through all of these moments is that God has always used women in the most joyful, surprising, and powerful ways. He doesn’t play by the world’s rules about who is important or worthy. Whether it was Lydia’s bold faith, the Samaritan woman’s enthusiastic evangelism, or Mary Magdalene’s privilege of being the first to see the risen Christ, these women were used by God to bring joy and hope to the world.

In the same way, the early church was built on the faith and joy of women who stepped up in unexpected ways. Paul didn’t expect to find a group of women by the river in Philippi, but when he did, it was their joyful faith that helped launch the church in Europe. Women like Lydia didn’t just sit by and watch; they were part of the active movement of the gospel. And it wasn’t just about what they did—it was about the joy in their hearts and the willingness to be part of God’s plan. The joy of being used by God to spread His love is contagious, and it’s that joy that still fuels the mission of the church today.

So, whether it’s the laughter and light in Lydia’s home as she welcomes Paul and his team or the pure joy Mary Magdalene must’ve felt running to tell the disciples that Jesus was alive, there’s a beautiful, joyful thread running through the stories of women in Scripture. And that joy continues to echo in the hearts of those who follow Christ today, reminding us that we, too, can be part of spreading that same joy to the world.

Take a bit of time and read The Proverb’s 31 Woman

I hope this message has been a blessing to you. If so, please leave a comment!

Anna M. C. Hazen 2025