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Acts 16

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:

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

What does Acts 16:1 mean?

Explanation

Acts 16:1 speaks about the Apostle Paul's visit to the cities of Derbe and Lystra during his missionary journeys.

The verse introduces a character named Timothy (Timotheus), who becomes an important figure in the New Testament and a close companion to Paul.

Timothy is described as a disciple whose mother was a Jewish believer but whose father was a Greek.

This mixed heritage is significant, as it indicates Timothy’s connection to both the Jewish and Gentile communities, a valuable asset for missionary work in a diverse cultural landscape.

The verse sets the stage for Timothy's role in the early Christian church and his later contributions as a leader and as the recipient of two of Paul's epistles, First and Second Timothy.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

During Paul's missionary journeys, as recorded in the book of Acts, Christianity was being spread across the Mediterranean world.

Derbe and Lystra were cities in the Roman province of Lycaonia, located in what is now modern-day Turkey.

The early Christian mission was characterized by movement from Jewish contexts to increasingly Gentile ones.

The cultural background of Timothy, as someone with Jewish and Greek parentage, demonstrates the early Christian community's diverse composition. Paul's second missionary journey, which included visits to these cities, took place around AD 49-52.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Timothy's mixed heritage provides insight into the early church's struggle with identity and inclusion. The Jewish-Gentile divide was a major issue, with questions about whether Gentiles needed to adhere to Jewish customs to be Christians.

From a Jewish Christian perspective, a figure like Timothy embodies the outreach to the Gentiles while still maintaining a connection to Jewish roots.

This aligns with Paul's theology that in Christ, there is no "Jew or Greek," as he writes in Galatians 3:28, emphasizing the unity of believers regardless of cultural or ethnic backgrounds.

Some denominations might highlight Timothy's role as an example of early Christian ecumenism and inclusivity.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire modern believers to embrace diversity within their faith communities. Just as Timothy's diverse background was a bridge between cultures, contemporary Christians are encouraged to find unity amidst diversity and to work collaboratively with people of different backgrounds.

Furthermore, Timothy is a model for young leaders, suggesting that youth and heritage should not be barriers to being an effective witness and minister of the Christian faith.

Cross-References

Acts 14:6 (referring to the cities of Derbe and Lystra)
1 Corinthians 7:14 (speaking about the sanctification of family members within mixed-faith marriages)
Galatians 3:28 (on the unity of believers in Christ)
1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2 (Letters from Paul to Timothy)
Acts 16:3 (Paul having Timothy circumcised because of the Jews in the area)

Language Study

In the original Greek text, Timothy is called "Timotheos," which means "honoring God" or "one who honors God." The mention of his mother being a "Jewess" uses the Greek term "Ioudaia," highlighting her Jewish ethnicity, with "believed" conveying her acceptance of the Christian faith.

The word "disciple" is translated from the Greek "mathetes," denoting a learner or follower, which signifies Timothy's commitment to the teachings of Christianity.

His father being a "Greek" is from the Greek "Hellen," pointing to Greek culture or ethnicity and possibly indicating he was not a Christian believer.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader context of ancient myths and religions, conversion stories and the blending of different cultural practices were common.

Timothy's background as a person of mixed heritage may resonate with other ancient tales of individuals who bridge two worlds, but his role is unique within Christian narratives as a herald of the new unity found in the Christian message.

Scientific Perspectives

The mention of Timothy's mixed cultural background provides an opportunity for discussing genetics and inherited traits in a scientific context.

There is no direct scientific analysis to be derived from this verse, but one could explore the concept of genetic diversity and its benefits to populations, drawing a metaphorical parallel to the benefits of cultural and ethnic diversity in communities.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentaries address Acts 16:1 by focusing on Timothy's exemplariness as a young leader, the strategic choice of Paul to recruit someone who could navigate both Jewish and Gentile worlds, and the significance of his mother's faith.

Renowned Biblical commentators like Matthew Henry point out that Timothy was well-reported by the brethren, indicating his good reputation among early Christians.

John Calvin remarks on the providential preparation of Timothy for the work in the Church.

Many agree that the relationship between Paul and Timothy represents a strong mentor-mentee dynamic that is exemplary for Christian discipleship.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 16:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?