Acts 16:1-5·~1 min

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

Paul comes to Derbe and Lystra and finds Timothy, a disciple well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. Wanting Timothy to accompany him, Paul circumcises him because of the Jews in the region, who all know Timothy's father is Greek.

P¹aul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father. ²The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. ³Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

As they travel from town to town, they deliver the decisions from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the churches to keep. The churches are strengthened in the faith and grow in number each day.

⁴As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. ⁵So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Section summaryPaul returns to Derbe and Lystra, where he meets Timothy, a well-regarded disciple born to a believing Jewish mother and a Greek father. Paul takes him along, circumcises him because of the local Jews, and together they deliver the Jerusalem decisions so that the churches are strengthened and increase daily.

Role in the chapterThis opening movement links the second journey to the last chapter's council. Timothy's joining and the delivery of the council's decisions show mission and ordered church life moving together.