Bible Strands
Acts 16:3
Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Luke narrates Paul’s action toward Timothy after the believers in Lystra and Iconium commend him, occurring just before Paul and his companions travel from town to town to deliver Jerusalem’s apostolic decrees.
The words — ἠθέλησεν (ēthelēsen) translates literally as "wanted" or "was willing," and τοῦτον (touton) means "this one," pinpointing Timothy as the specific subject of Paul's deliberate choice.
The thread — The narrative aligns with Paul’s stated strategy in 1 Corinthians 9:20 to adapt culturally to reach Jews, while Galatians 2:3 records his refusal to compel Titus to undergo the same rite, and Galatians 5:6 explicitly states that physical circumcision or uncircumcision carries no spiritual weight.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to distinguish between strategic cultural accommodation for mission and essential doctrinal compromise, demanding honest self-examination of the methods and motives used in outreach.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Galatians 2:3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.
- Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.
- Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
- Acts 15:20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
- Acts 15:40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
- Galatians 2:8 For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.
- Acts 15:37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.