How do we know that God chooses specific individuals for salvation?

The story of Lydia in Acts 16 serves as a compelling example of how God chooses specific individuals for salvation. In the passage, it is noted that while many women gathered by the riverside, it was specifically Lydia whose heart the Lord opened. This act of divine intervention highlights the reformed understanding of God's sovereignty in choosing the elect. The narrative illustrates that God's grace is not indiscriminate; He has a particular focus on those whom He has appointed for salvation, akin to the way He directed Paul and Silas to Philippi with the intent of reaching Lydia. This affirms the doctrine of predestination and reaffirms that faith is a gift from God, granted only to those He has chosen.