Acts 16:1-5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 16:1-5

Paul was a spiritual father, and as such a one we have him here adopting Timothy, and taking care of the education of many others who had been begotten to Christ by his ministry: and in all he appears to have been a wise and tender father. Here is, I. His taking Timothy into his acquaintance and under his tuition. One thing designed in the book of the Acts is to help us to understand Paul's epistles, two of which are directed to Timothy; it was therefore necessary that in the history of Paul... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 16:1-5

16:1-5 Paul arrived at Derbe and Lystra and, look you, there was a disciple there called Timothy. He was the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was Greek. The brethren in Lystra and Iconium were witnesses to his worth. Paul wished him to go out with him and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in these places, for they all knew that his father was Greek. As they made their way through the cities they handed over to them the decisions which had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:1

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra ,.... Which were cities of Lycaonia, Acts 14:6 after Paul had gone through Syria and Cilicia; in the last of these places, he had been stoned, and yet goes thither again; none of these things moved him from the preaching of the Gospel, and from the care of the churches, such zeal, courage, and intrepidity was he possessed of: and behold a certain disciple was there : a converted person, a believer in Christ, one that had learned to know and deny... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:2

Which was well reported of ,.... Not the father of Timothy, but Timothy himself; to whose piety, virtue, and good conversation witness was borne, by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium ; the members of the churches which were in these places, and which were not far from one another; and as it is necessary that ministers of the Gospel should have a good report of them that are without, so likewise of them that are within; and the testimony of the latter is preferable to that of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:3

Him would Paul have to go forth with him ,.... Perceiving that he was a young man, that not only had the grace of God, but very considerable gifts, and abilities for ministerial service; and having a good testimony of his agreeable life and conversation, the apostle was very desirous he should go along with him, and be his companion in his travels, and be an assistant to him in the work of the ministry; and accordingly he was, and is often spoken of in his epistles, as his fellowlabourer,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:4

And as they went through the cities ,.... Of Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, and others in Lycaonia, and in Phrygia and Galatia; the Arabic version reads, "they both"; that is, Paul and Barnabas: they delivered them the decrees for to keep ; they gave the churches, in these cities, the sentiments, and determinations to be observed and followed by them: that were ordained of the apostles which were at Jerusalem ; concerning the abstinence of the Gentiles from things offered to idols, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:5

And so were the churches established in the faith ,.... Of Christ, both in the grace and doctrine of faith; and that both by the preaching of the Gospel by the apostle and his companions, and by the decrees of the elders delivered by him: and increased in number daily ; as well as in gifts and grace. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 16:1

A certain disciple - Bishop Pearce would read the latter part of this verse and the beginning of the next thus - A certain disciple named Timotheus, (the son of a certain Jewish woman that believed, but of a father who was a Greek), who was well reported of by the brethren, etc. This Timothy was the same person to whom St. Paul wrote those two noble epistles which are still extant. His mother's name was Eunice, as we learn from 2 Timothy 1:5 . What his father's name was we know not; he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 16:2

Which was well reported of - These words are spoken of Timothy, and not of his father. At this time Timothy must have been very young; for, several years after, when appointed to superintend the Church at Crete, he appears to have been then so young that there was a danger of its operating to the prejudice of his ministry: 1 Timothy 4:12 , Let no man despise thy youth. He had a very early religious education from his godly mother Eunice, and his not less pious grandmother Lois; and, from... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 16:3

Took and circumcised him - For this simple reason, that the Jews would neither have heard him preach, nor would have any connection with him, had he been otherwise. Besides, St. Paul himself could have had no access to the Jews in any place, had they known that he associated with a person who was uncircumcised: they would have considered both to be unclean. The circumcision of Timothy was a merely prudential regulation; one rendered imperiously necessary by the circumstances in which they... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 16:1-5

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 16:1-5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 16:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 16:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 16:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 16:3

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