BOOK OF ACTS
Chapter 16
16:1 And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek,
He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek.
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
16:1 Timothy is the first second-generation Christian mentioned in the New Testament. His mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois (2 Tim. 1:5), had become believers and had faithfully influenced him for the Lord. Although Timothy’s father apparently was not a Christian, the faithfulness of his mother and grandmother prevailed. Never underestimate the far-reaching consequences of raising one small child to love the Lord.
R.C. Sproul
Having begun his second missionary journey by passing through Syria and Cilicia, Paul now come to Derbe and Lystra, the cities he visited last on his first journey. He comes to them first on this trip because he is traveling from the east; on his first journey, he came to them from the west and returned the way he came. He is now beginning to fulfill the stated purpose for his second journey. He is also returning to the site of his severest persecution.
Luke has little to say about the churches in these cities. But he records Paul’s encounter with Timothy, who will become his companion and his “true son in the faith”. Unlike John Mark, with whom Paul would have nothing to do, the apostle is impressed by this young man. Timothy is the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, Eunice, who, along with Timothy’s grandmother, Lois, had taught him the Scriptures from an early are. These women may have become Christians during Paul’s first visit and, in turn, instructed Timothy in the faith. Under this tutelage, his faith grew strong, and he is known to and admired by believers from Derby to Iconium. He is still very young at this time; even in an epistle written approximately 14 years later, Paul will advise him not to let others look down on him because of his youth.
However, Paul faces one major hurdle to enlisting Timothy on his missionary team; he is a product of a mixed marriage, and his father, not being a Jew, had not had him circumcised. As an uncircumcised son of a Jew, he is an offense to Jews (there would have been no offense had both his parents been Gentiles). Paul, of course, is carrying a decree from the Jerusalem Council stating that circumcision is not necessary for Christian faith, a decision for which he argued strenuously. He will deliver that decree to the churches, helping them greatly. But Paul is willing to circumcise Timothy in order to take him along and still be able to minister to Jews without giving offense. Is Paul being inconsistent? Not at all. As Dr. Simon Kistemaker notes, “Paul himself wanted to be all things to all people, so that he might win both Jew and Gentile for Christ. He expected that Timothy, a fellow missionary, would do the same.” Timothy does, and becomes an invaluable aide to the apostle.
Who is a Jew?
Historically, a person's identity is determined by genetics (heredity) and/or citizenship. For example, though my surname, Sala, is Italian, I was born in America. That means I hold a U.S. passport. However, since my parents were of Irish and English descent, I suppose that makes me an American of Irish-English-Italian descent.
But Jews historically are defined by both heredity and by religion. That's where the logic gets confusing. A person born of a Jewish mother is considered to be a Jew. Regardless of nationality, if a person converts to Judaism, he or she becomes a Jew, according to rabbis today. Likewise, if a person born of a Jewish parent ceases to practice Judaism and becomes an atheist, to rabbis, if a Jew becomes a Christian, he or she ceases to be a Jew regardless of the Jewish blood which flows through his or her veins.
When Greece Produced Great Men
Greece today has been despoiled of her art treasures, her temples have fallen, her Parthenon is in ruins. But, in Greek history, there was a period of two hundred years, when she emphasized men more than the things they created.
Between 500 and 300 B.C., Greece produced great men who became teachers of the human race. Men such as Themistocles, Pericles, Plato, Aristotle, Sophocles, Pindar, Demosthenes, and Phidias arose, and in these men may be seen Greece's true riches.
PROFILE: TIMOTHY
Painful lessons are usually doorways to new opportunities. Even the apostle Paul had much to learn. Shortly after his disappointing experience with John Mark, Paul recruited another eager young man, Timothy, to be his assistant. Paul’s intense personality may have been too much for John Mark to handle. It could easily have created the same problem for Timothy. But Paul seems to have learned a lesson in patience from his old friend Barnabas. As a result, Timothy became a “son” to Paul.
Timothy probably became a Christian after Paul’s first missionary visit to Lystra (Acts 16:1-5). Timothy already had solid Jewish training in the Scriptures from his mother and grandmother. By Paul’s second visit, Timothy had grown into a respected disciple of Jesus. He did not hesitate to join Paul and Silas on their journey. His willingness to be circumcised as an adult is clearly a mark of his commitment. (Timothy’s mixed Greek/Jewish background could have created problems on their missionary journeys, because many of their audiences would be made up of Jews who were concerned about the strict keeping of this tradition. Timothy’s submission to the rite of circumcision helped to avoid that potential problem.)
Beyond the tensions created by his mixed racial background, Timothy seemed to struggle with a naturally timid character and a sensitivity to his youthfulness. Unfortunately, many who share Timothy’s character traits are quickly written off as too great a risk to deserve much responsibility. By God’s grace, Paul saw great potential in Timothy. Paul demonstrated his confidence in Timothy by entrusting him with important responsibilities. Paul sent Timothy as his personal representative to Corinth during a particularly tense time (1 Cor. 4:14-17). Although Timothy was apparently ineffective in that difficult mission, Paul did not give up on him. Timothy continued to travel with Paul.
Our last pictures of Timothy come from the most personal letters in the New Testament: 1 and 2 Timothy. The aging apostle Paul was near the end of his life, but his burning desire to continue his mission had not dimmed. Paul was writing to one of his closest friends—they had traveled, suffered, cried, and laughed together. They shared the intense joy of seeing people respond to the Good News and the agonies of seeing the gospel rejected and distorted. Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to oversee the young church there (1 Tim. 1:3, 4). He wrote to encourage Timothy and give him needed direction. These letters have provided comfort and help to countless other “Timothy's” through the years. When you face a challenge that seems beyond your abilities, read 1 and 2 Timothy, and remember that others have shared your experience.
Strengths and accomplishments:
· Became a believer after Paul’s first missionary journey and joined him for his other two journeys
· Was a respected Christian in his hometown
· Was Paul’s special representative on several occasions
· Received two personal letters from Paul
· Probably knew Paul better than any other person, becoming like a son to Paul
Weaknesses and mistakes:
· Struggled with a timid and reserved nature
· Allowed others to look down on his youthfulness
· Was apparently unable to correct some of the problems in the church at Corinth when Paul sent him there
Lessons from his life:
· Youthfulness should not be an excuse for ineffectiveness
· Our inadequacies and inabilities should not keep us from being available to God
Vital statistics:
· Where: Lystra
· Occupations: Missionary, pastor
· Relatives: Mother: Eunice. Grandmother: Lois. Greek father
· Contemporaries: Paul, Silas, Luke, Mark, Peter, Barnabas
Key verses:
“I have no one else like him (Timothy), who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel” (Phil. 2:20-22).
Timothy’s story is told in Acts, starting in chapter 16. He is also mentioned in Romans 16:21; 1 Cor. 4:17; 1 Cor. 16:10-11; 2 Cor. 1:1, 19; Phil. 1:1; Phil. 2:19-23; Col. 1:1; 1 Thes. 1:1-10; 1 Thes. 2:3-4; 1 Thes. 3:2-6; 1 Tim. and 2 Tim.; Philemon 1; Hebrews 13:23.
16:2 and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium.
The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
16:2-3 Timothy and his mother, Eunice, were from Lystra. Eunice had probably heard Paul’s preaching when he was there during his first missionary journey (Acts 14:6-18). Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother and Greek father—to the Jews, a half-breed like a Samaritan. So Paul asked Timothy to be circumcised to remove some of the stigma he may have had with Jewish believers. Timothy was not required to be circumcised (the Jerusalem council had decided that— Acts 15), but he voluntarily did this to overcome any barriers to his witness for Christ. Sometimes we need to go beyond the minimum requirements in order to help our audience receive our testimony.
Epigram On Reputation
· It is better to die with a good name, than to live with a bad one.
· A good reputation grows up, a bad reputation shoots up.
· Everyone ought to fear to die until he has done something that will always live.
· People may doubt what you say, but they will always believe what you do
TIMOTHY (Tihm’o thy) Personal name meaning, “honoring God.” Friend and trusted coworker of Paul. When Timothy was a child, his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois taught him the Scriptures (2 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 3:15). A native of Lystra, he may have been converted on Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 14:6-23). Paul referred to Timothy as his child in the faith (1 Cor. 4:17; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2). This probably means that Paul was instrumental in Timothy’s conversion. When Paul came to Lystra on his second journey, Timothy was a disciple who was well-respected by the believers (Acts 16:1-2). Paul asked Timothy to accompany him. Timothy’s father was a Greek, and Timothy had not been circumcised. Because they would be ministering to many Jews and because Timothy’s mother was Jewish, Paul had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:3).
Timothy not only accompanied Paul but also was sent on many crucial missions by Paul (Acts 17:14-15; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4; Romans 16:21; 1 Cor. 16:10; 2 Cor. 1:19; 1 Thes. 3:2; 1 Thes. 3:6). For example, when Paul was unable to go to Corinth, he sent Timothy to represent Paul and his teachings (1 Cor. 4:17). Later when Paul was in prison, he sent Timothy to Philippi (Phil. 2:19). Paul felt that no one had any more compassion and commitment than Timothy (Phil. 2:20-22).
So close were Paul and Timothy that both names are listed as the authors of six of Paul’s letters (2 Cor. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 1 Thes. 1:1; 2 Thes. 1:1; Philemon 1:1). In addition, Paul wrote two letters to Timothy (1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2). As Paul’s ministry neared the end, he challenged Timothy to remain true to his calling (1 Tim. 1:18). As Paul faced death, he asked Timothy to come to be with him (2 Tim. 4:9). At some point in his life, Timothy was imprisoned; but he was released (Hebrews 13:23).
EUNICE (eeu’ nihce) Personal name meaning, “victorious.” The mother of Timothy (2 Tim. 1:5). Both she and her mother Lois were commended by Paul for their faith. She was a Jewish woman whose husband was a Gentile. No details are known about her conversion to Christianity.
LYSTRA (Lys’ tru) A city in south central Asia Minor and an important Lycaonian center. According to Acts 16:1, it probably was the home of young Timothy, one of Paul’s companions in the ministry. Paul’s healing of a crippled man at Lystra (Acts 14:8-10) caused the inhabitants to revere him as a god. Many believed his preaching but were turned against the missionary by Judaizers from Antioch and Iconium. Paul was dragged out of Lystra, stoned, and left for dead. He revived and later went back to the city to lend strength to the new Christians.
ICONIUM (igh co’ nih um) City of Asia Minor visited by Barnabas and Paul during the first missionary journey (Acts 13:51). Paul endured sufferings and persecution at Iconium (2 Tim. 3:11). Its location is that of the modern Turkish provincial capital Konya. Iconium was mentioned for the first time in the fourth century B.C. by the historian Xenophon. In New Testament times it was considered to be a part of the Roman province of Galatia. Evidently it has had a continuous existence since its founding.
16:3 Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.