PAUL CHOOSES TIMOTHY
Key verse: 1
NIV
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra,(A) where a disciple named Timothy(B) lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer(C) but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers(D) at Lystra and Iconium(E) spoke well of him. 3 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.(F) 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders(G) in Jerusalem(H) for the people to obey.(I) 5 So the churches were strengthened(J) in the faith and grew daily in numbers.(K)
Cross references
- Acts 16:1 : Ac 14:6
- Acts 16:1 : Ac 17:14; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4; Ro 16:21; 1Co 4:17; 16:10; 2Co 1:1, 19; Php 1:1; 2:19; Col 1:1; 1Th 1:1; 3:2, 6; 2Th 1:1; 1Ti 1:2, 18; 2Ti 1:2, 5, 6; Phm 1
- Acts 16:1 : 2Ti 1:5
- Acts 16:2 : ver 40; S Ac 1:16
- Acts 16:2 : S Ac 13:51
- Acts 16:3 : Gal 2:3
- Acts 16:4 : S Ac 11:30
- Acts 16:4 : Ac 15:2
- Acts 16:4 : Ac 15:28, 29
- Acts 16:5 : Ac 9:31; 15:41
- Acts 16:5 : S Ac 2:41
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
16 Paul[a] came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named (A)Timothy, (B)the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by (C)the brothers[b] at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he (D)took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance (E)the decisions (F)that had been reached by (G)the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 (H)So the churches were strengthened in (I)the faith, and they increased in numbers (J)daily.
Read full chapterCross references
- Acts 16:1 : ch. 17:14; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4; Rom. 16:21; 1 Cor. 4:17; Phil. 2:19; Col. 1:1; 1 Thess. 3:2; 2 Thess. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:2, 18; 2 Tim. 1:2
- Acts 16:1 : 2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15
- Acts 16:2 : See John 21:23
- Acts 16:3 : [Gal. 2:3]
- Acts 16:4 : ch. 17:7
- Acts 16:4 : ch. 15:28, 29
- Acts 16:4 : See ch. 15:2
- Acts 16:5 : [ch. 9:31]
- Acts 16:5 : See ch. 6:7
- Acts 16:5 : ch. 2:47
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Paul decides to take Timothy (1-3)
Paul was looking for a young man whom he could train as a disciple and missionary. He had hoped to train Mark, but Mark could not endure the hardships of missionary life. When Paul returned to Lystra, where he had been stoned and left for dead, he met the small group of courageous believers. Among them were Timothy and his mother. Timothy had not been circumcised because his father was Greek. Paul had just won the battle about circumcision, and was visiting the churches with the good news that it was not necessary. But he circumcised Timothy anyway, because of the Jews. Perhaps he was training Timothy to be all things to all men.
2. Strengthened in the faith (4-5)
The believers were strengthened when they saw Paul's and Timothy's faith and, especially, when they learned that all they needed in order to be God's people was obedient faith.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be a good disciple of Jesus and a disciple-maker.
One Word: Be a disciple-maker
