8th Jun 26 | 14:45
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Circumcision of Timothy
📖 Acts 16:01-03
Acts 16 - Series 01/Episode 08 - Mon, 01 June 2026 - Circumcision of Timothy - Acts 16:01-05 - THE INDUCTION OF TIMOTHY - I Corinthians 07:18-20
Acts 16:1-3 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. (2) He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. (3) Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.
Paul had Timothy circumcised because of the Jews, because they knew that Timothy had a Jewish mother, but his father was Greek. This was not because Paul feared the Jews.
Paul and Barnabas were bold in the synagogue in Antioch, Pisidia. Acts 13:45-46 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. (46) Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
In Iconium, the Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the Apostles. Paul and Barnabas were bold and spoke of the Lord and of His grace. Acts 14:1-3 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. (2) But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. (3) Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
The Jerusalem Council was an outcome of the confrontation of Paul and Barnabas against the Jews, who were insisting on keeping the law of Moses and being circumcised to be saved. Acts 15:1-2 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." (2) Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
Paul testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ in Corinth. Acts 18:5-6 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. (6) But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
Paul received 39 stripes from the Jews five times. If he were afraid of the Jews and what they would do to him, he would not have gone to the synagogues and shared the Gospel with them. II Corinthians 11:24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
Paul was not afraid to go to Jerusalem, knowing what awaited him. Acts 20:22-24 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, (23) except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. (24) But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
With Titus, Paul took another position, and this was because he was Greek. Galatians 2:3-5 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. (4) And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), (5) to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Paul made it clear that circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. I Corinthians 7:18-20 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. (19) Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. (20) Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.
Having Timothy circumcised was a missional strategy. I Corinthians 9:20-22 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; (21) to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; (22) to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
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