Scripture: 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. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 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. 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. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
Acts 16:1-5 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Luke reveals a conflict that time will aid in resolving. Keen to return to their church plants in Asia Minor, Paul suggests to Barnabas that they embark on a second mission outreach. Barnabas provisionally agrees if his cousin John Mark is permitted to rejoin the team. But Paul sharply refuses, pointing out that John Mark left the cohorts when they arrived in Pamphylia on their first mission. Unable to negotiate a compromise, Barnabas takes his cousin and sails to their home country of Cyprus. Meanwhile, Paul and Silas, commended by the brothers, return to Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches.
For today’s reading, Luke introduces us to Timothy, the new member of Paul and Silas’ mission team. Having revisited Derbe and Lystra, Paul meets this young man at Lystra, who, Luke tells us, is the son of a Jewish-convert mother and pagan Greek father. Being well-spoken by the church brethren, Paul seeks to have Timothy join his team. Confirming Timothy’s commitment, Paul circumcises Timothy to appease the Jews, who knew that Timothy’s dad was a Gentile. As the mission team continued their journey through Asia Minor, they informed the elders of the local churches of the Jerusalem Council’s decision, which only strengthened the churches’ faith and spurred new members daily.
Takeaway: With Paul circumcising Timothy, he may appear to be a hypocrite, given he chastised Peter for withdrawing from uncircumcised Gentiles at Antioch to win the favor of the circumcision sect (Galatians 2:11-14). But here, the issue is that Jewish law requires a child to assume the mother’s religion. Because Lystra was a small town with few Jews, they wielded little, if any, influence. So Timothy’s Greek father likely refused to let his son receive circumcision. But for Timothy, a Jew by birth, being circumcised would not contradict the Jerusalem Council’s letter nor Paul’s criticism of Peter. Both issues centered on the Greek converts, not the Jewish converts. Thus, Paul’s actions align with his teachings of becoming all things to all people: “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV). Paul’s concern is that since Timothy is a Jew—not a proselyte but an ethnic Jew—Timothy will have a more significant impact in presenting the Gospel to his brethren if he is circumcised.
Our takeaway? Living out our freedom according to our Gospel of Grace is a tricky balance between “works” and “faith.” Indeed, James’ epistle, which championed “faith without works is dead” (James 2:14-26), did not receive canonical inclusion until the third century because the early church fathers were concerned that its readers would misconstrue James letter as promoting works righteousness. But Paul’s teaching on becoming all things to all people to win others to Christ helps us gain perspective. We choose to take whatever means necessary to build a bridge to the least, the last, and the lost—except for any works or words that dishonor Christ by disobeying his commands.
Still, it would be easy to manipulate this principle to justify our inherently self-focused nature. That’s why we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the collaboration of mature Christians to keep us in line. Paul, Silas, and Timothy had both, and we need both. Only then will we become all things to all people to save some for Christ—which brings true meaning and purpose to our lives. Otherwise, we will loosen our grip on Christ’s grace for the fleeting approval of others, which will never satisfy our deepest longings.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who became all things to all people by perfect obedience to your will, which led him to lay down his life as a substitutionary sacrifice for us. And we thank you for Paul’s example of becoming all things to all people to lead others to your Son. Still, we confess we are prone to seek the approval of others to avoid their rejection or reprisal. So would you please deepen our understanding of your love and grace for us and others so that we might become all things to all people as we submit to the guidance of your Holy Spirit and the counsel of mature Christians? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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