Acts 16 3

Acts 16:3 kjv

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.

Acts 16:3 nkjv

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.

Acts 16:3 niv

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.

Acts 16:3 esv

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Acts 16:3 nlt

so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek.

Acts 16 verses

Acts 16 3 Meaning

Acts 16:3 details Paul's decision to circumcise Timothy before taking him on his second missionary journey. This seemingly contradictory act, given the recent Council of Jerusalem's decree against requiring circumcision for Gentile converts, was a strategic move driven by missionary effectiveness. Paul's intent was to remove a potential stumbling block for evangelism among the Jews in the areas they would visit, who were aware of Timothy's uncircumcised status due to his Greek father, despite having a Jewish mother. It was an act of accommodation, not a theological statement on salvation.

Acts 16 3 Context

Acts chapter 16 opens with Paul embarking on his second missionary journey after a disagreement with Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41). He travels through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. His arrival in Lystra introduces Timothy, a young disciple known for his excellent reputation among believers in Lystra and Iconium. Timothy's background—having a Jewish mother who was a believer and a Greek father—is crucial. This mixed heritage, while making him ethnically Jewish according to matrilineal custom, meant he was considered uncircumcised by observant Jews due to his father being Greek. The historical context includes the widespread Jewish Diaspora with synagogues in most major Roman cities. For a missionary team to gain effective access and avoid immediate rejection by the Jewish communities they sought to evangelize, perceived adherence to certain Jewish customs could be strategically beneficial. Paul, despite his strong theological stance on freedom from the law, recognized the practical realities of reaching different audiences.

Acts 16 3 Word analysis

• Paul (Παῦλος - Paulos): The apostle to the Gentiles, here demonstrates profound practical wisdom in his missionary strategy, prioritizing gospel advancement over dogmatic consistency on non-salvation issues.

• wanted (ἠθέλησεν - ēthelēsen): Signifies a definite intention and personal desire on Paul's part. It wasn't an imposed act but a conscious choice.

• Timothy (Τιμόθεον - Timotheon): A young disciple, son of a Jewish mother and Greek father (Acts 16:1). His personal willingness to submit to this painful procedure underscores his devotion and readiness for ministry.

• to go with him: Indicates Paul's desire for Timothy to join his apostolic team, suggesting a mentoring relationship and a need for suitable companions for ministry.

• and he took him: Signifies Paul's decisive action in recruiting and incorporating Timothy into his team, and also implies leading the act of circumcision.

• circumcised (περιέτεμεν - perietemen): Greek peritemnō, meaning to cut around. This ritual was a foundational sign of the Abrahamic covenant in Judaism (Gen 17), typically performed on the eighth day. For Timothy, an adult, it was a delayed but purposeful submission to Jewish custom. It was not done for his salvation, as he was already a believer.

• him: Refers to Timothy.

• because of (διά - dia): This preposition indicates the reason or cause. The sole reason for the circumcision was the local Jewish population, not a theological necessity for Timothy's faith or standing with God.

• the Jews (τοὺς Ἰουδαίους - tous Ioudaious): Specifically refers to the Jewish communities Paul and his team planned to evangelize in those regions. They constituted the initial audience Paul often sought out in each city (Acts 13:5, 14, 17:1-3).

• who were in those places: Points to the specific geographical areas (Lystra, Iconium, and beyond) where Paul intended to minister. These communities had observant Jewish populations.

• for (γὰρ - gar): Introduces the explanation or justification for the preceding statement.

• they all knew (ᾔδεισαν γὰρ πάντες - ēdeisan gar pantes): Emphasizes the public knowledge and widespread awareness among the local Jewish populations concerning Timothy's mixed parentage. His status as uncircumcised was common knowledge.

• that his father was a Greek (Ἑλλην - Hellēn): Greek Hellēn, refers to a Greek speaker or a Gentile. This fact meant that Timothy had not undergone circumcision, a clear mark of distinction and, to many Jews, a barrier to full communal participation and acceptance.

• "Paul wanted Timothy to go with him, and he took him": This phrase highlights the proactive recruitment and integration of Timothy into Paul's missionary team. It wasn't merely a passive association but a deliberate inclusion of a gifted individual for shared ministry.

• "circumcised him because of the Jews": This grouping clearly defines the motivation. The action (circumcision) was entirely pragmatic and context-dependent, directly linked to the specific audience (the Jews) and their perceptions, rather than being an internal requirement for Timothy's spiritual state. It demonstrates Paul's missionary expediency.

• "for they all knew that his father was a Greek": This provides the underlying reason why the circumcision was necessary for public perception. Timothy's known background meant his uncircumcised status was an immediate hurdle for Jewish receptiveness to the Gospel message brought by Paul's team. It was about credibility and removing obstacles.

Acts 16 3 Bonus section

• Paul's Consistency with "All Things to All People": The act of circumcising Timothy perfectly aligns with Paul's stated missionary philosophy in 1 Cor 9:19-23, where he explains his willingness to become "as a Jew to Jews, in order to win Jews," and "under the law... that I might win those under the law." This was not hypocrisy but tactical flexibility for kingdom purposes.
• Contrast with Titus: This event is critical when contrasted with Paul's staunch refusal to have Titus, a Gentile convert, circumcised (Gal 2:3). This highlights the core distinction: Titus, a Gentile, would have symbolized a return to law-keeping for salvation if circumcised; Timothy, a Jew, was being circumcised to fulfill a cultural expectation among his own people for the sake of ministry access, not for justification. This nuanced approach clarifies that Paul never compromised the gospel of grace.
• Impact on Timothy's Ministry: Timothy's willingness to be circumcised, though an adult, demonstrated his dedication to Paul and the gospel. This act not only facilitated his entry into Jewish communities but likely deepened his empathy and understanding for both Jewish and Gentile converts, preparing him for effective cross-cultural ministry alongside Paul.

Acts 16 3 Commentary

Acts 16:3 encapsulates Paul's remarkable blend of unswerving theological conviction and profound practical adaptability in missionary strategy. Just a chapter earlier, Paul had vehemently championed the truth that Gentiles do not need circumcision for salvation (Acts 15), asserting freedom in Christ. Yet, here he himself facilitates Timothy's circumcision. This apparent contradiction underscores a vital distinction: Paul fought against circumcision as a requirement for salvation or righteousness (Galatians, Acts 15), but was willing to accept it as a strategic accommodation for gospel advancement (1 Cor 9:19-23).

Timothy, being ethnically Jewish through his mother, was understood by observant Jews to be subject to the covenant sign of circumcision. His uncircumcised status, due to his Greek father, would have immediately disqualified him from teaching in synagogues or engaging effectively with Jewish communities without causing major offense or immediate dismissal of their message. Paul's act was not a theological concession but a pastoral and evangelistic maneuver. By circumcising Timothy, Paul removed an unnecessary cultural barrier, enabling both Timothy and the broader missionary team to gain a hearing among the very people they aimed to reach first. It was an exercise in "becoming all things to all people to save some," demonstrating humble wisdom to avoid trivial stumbling blocks for the sake of the eternal Gospel.