Commentary on Acts 16.1-7

By Bob Myhan

¹Then 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. ²He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. ³Paul 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.

Timothy‘s mother and grandmother were named Eunice and Lois, respectively. They had genuine faith which they had instilled in Timothy (2 Tim. 1.5). The three had presumably been immersed into Christ during the visit of Paul and Barnabas. Timothy’s father’s name remains unknown. The young man was well known and well liked in Lystra and Iconium. Probably due to being impressed by the young man’s faith and zeal, Paul decided to use him in his ministry. However, because it was known that his father was a Greek, it was expedient to circumcise the youth in order that he might have the greater influence, not only among the Jews but others, as well. This is because of a fact of which, until recently, the author was unaware. This is the fact that the rite of circumcision did not cease to be binding, on those to whom it was given, with the nailing of the Law of Moses to the cross. This is the case, not only because it was instituted before the Law of Moses was given, but also because it was binding on many who were never under the Law. Consider the institution of this rite.

 And God said to Abraham. "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you. Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant." (Gen. 17.9-14)

Thus, the covenant of circumcision was to be passed on to all of Abraham’s offspring (Isaac, Ishmael and the sons of Keturah, the second wife of Abraham) and all of their descendants. And Isaac had two sons—Jacob and Esau. Also, Ishmael had twelve sons (Gen. 25.12-15), all of whom would be under this covenant. But only the descendants of Jacob were ever under the Law of Moses. Timothy, being the issue of a mixed marriage, was not under the covenant of circumcision because of his father being Greek. But, again, that he might have greater influence, not to mention acceptance, among the various nations that had Abraham as their progenitor, it was expedient that Timothy be circumcised.

⁴And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. ⁵So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Of course, these were the decrees that (1) circumcision was not to be bound on Gentile converts but (2) they were “to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.” Again, the first of these two was not specifically stated; it was to be inferred necessarily from the letter. This news strengthened their resolve to share the gospel, since they would not have to preach circumcision, as well.

⁶Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. ⁷After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

It is unknown in what sense Luke here uses the term “Galatia,” whether he means the old region of Galatia to the north or the Roman province of Galatia, which was larger and included the cities of Antioch, Iconium, Derbe and Lystra. Phrygia would also be part of this province. But Luke here demonstrates the Holy Spirit was directing them on their way, for He knew whether there were people in these areas who would be receptive to the gospel (see Acts 18.9-11). They were forbidden to preach in Asia and not permitted to preach in Bithynia. God had other evangelistic fields in mind. This last statement also reconfirms that the Holy Spirit is a person, rather than some impersonal force.

(To be continued)

A Study of the Holy Spirit (Part 27)

By Bob Myhan 

Not only did Jesus cast out demons but He performed a wide variety of miracles and wonders which demonstrated power over the laws of physics. Of course, He is the one who set those laws in motion (Gen. 1.1-31; John 1.1-3; Col. 1.12-17).

The first miracle Jesus performed was turning water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee (John 2.1-11). This does not imply that Jesus endorsed the consumption of fermented drinks, however, because both the word, “wine,” and its Greek equivalent, “oinos,” can be used for either an intoxicating beverage or the juice still in the grape. Jesus also stilled a tempest (Mark 8.37-41), walked on water (Mt. 14.25-33) and fed over 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish (Luke 9.10-17).

Jesus also performed a wide variety of healings. He healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever (Mt. 8.14-15); He healed ten lepers ((Luke 17.11-19); He made it possible for a man who was born blind to see (John 9.1-7); and He healed the severed ear of Malchus, servant of the high priest, after Peter had removed it with a sword (John 18.10; Luke 22.50-51).

Of course, the greatest power that Jesus manifested was His power over physical death itself. He raised the daughter of Jairus shortly after she died (Mt. 9.23); He raised the son of the widow of Nain, as he was being taken to his burial (Luke 7.11-17); and He raised Lazarus after He had been dead four days and whose body had begun putrefaction (John 11.38-44).

The greatest achievement of Jesus in the exercise of His power over death was His own resurrection from the dead. There is a distinction between being raised from the dead to die again, at a later time, and being resurrected from the dead to die no more. Jesus accurately predicted not only His own demise but also His resurrection.

So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said. (John 2.18-22).