Access granted
When we last look at Acts we saw the way that God uses all kinds of people, and their strengths and weaknesses, without giving up on them, to achieve His purposes. This passage introduces a very active and gifted person called Timothy. Timothy was effective because he had a knowledge of Scripture, the gift of the Holy Spirit and access to the communities that God sent him to reach. We all have access to a communities that need the Gospel. They may be age, culture or otherwise defined, who are particularly equipped to help access God’s Kingdom?
Scripture
Acts 16:1-5 ESV Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. [2] He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. [3] 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. [4] As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. [5] So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
Through the Scripture
Following up to strengthen the churches
Paul’s first journey with Barnabus was about two years and covered about 2000kms, his second with Silas was longer around 4500kms over 3 years. The second started with the objective of “seeing how they are”. They were not content to plant churches and run, they returned to care for and encourage them.
Acts 15:36-40 ESV And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” [37] Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. [38] But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. [39] And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, [40] but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
Timothy a son of the first mission journey
In returning to these churches they met with those who had received the Gospel a few years previously. Timothy is specifically mentioned. He was probably from Lystra where Paul was worshipped as a god and then stoned and left for dead. This, the miracle of the lame man healed and especially Paul’s return after the attempted murder may have had a huge impact on Timothy.
Acts 16:1 ESV Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy,
Acts 14:19-21 ESV But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. [20] But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. [21] When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
2 Timothy 1:2-4 ESV To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. [3] I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. [4] As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.
The gifted son of a Jewish mother and Greek father
Timothy would have been considered Jewish because his mother was Jewish, but he would also have strong connections with the Greeks because of his father. This places him in the perfect position to draw Greeks into the Christian faith. It wasn’t just his particular ethnicity though, he was well taught in the Hebrew Scriptures from a young age but most importantly was later empowered for ministry by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 16:1b ESV the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.
2 Timothy 1:5 ESV I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 ESV For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, [7] for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Respected in the gentile churches
God formed and developed Timothy to be an effective minister to the Greek churches. He was not just well known, indicating an active presence and ministry throughout the area, but was also respected and accepted by those communities. God had granted him access, and he was enabled to grant access to them.
Acts 16:2 ESV He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
1 Thessalonians 1:1 ESV Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
2 Corinthians 1:1 ESV Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
Philippians 1:1 ESV Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Timothy circumcised, but not Titus
The Gospel of Jesus is simple, we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ by God’s grace alone. We cannot earn our salvation or prove ourselves worthy. The Gospel is constantly threatened, and it was threatened by those who wanted Christians to be Jews before they could be saved. Titus is proof that Paul never compromised the Gospel teaching in this regard, but Timothy provided a different opportunity. Titus was Greek, but Timothy was a Jew who was also a Greek. Circumcising Timothy gave him access to the Jews as well as the Greeks.
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.
Galatians 2:3-5 ESV But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. [4] Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— [5] to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
Delivering the decision for gentiles
Working with the people that God had called and equipped to help him, Paul went about connecting with the Greeks and holding the door open for them to enter the Kingdom. They taught them and encouraged them to hold to the One Gospel and to live in a way that would keep the door open to Gentiles and Jews, just as the Apostles were led to do in the Jerusalem council.
Acts 16:4 ESV As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
Acts 15:28-29 ESV For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: [29] that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
Growing stronger churches
Like the Church in Jerusalem after Pentecost, the gentile churches now grew in faith and numbers. This growth came from the care, encouragement and teaching of people uniquely equipped to minister God’s word to them. They did so in the power of the Holy Spirit using their gifts for His Glory.
Acts 16:5 ESV So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
Acts 6:7 ESV And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.