Lesson 384

(Lesson 384)(09-02-12) Acts 16:1-5, "Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 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. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily."

This lesson, again, demonstrates a contradiction in the conduct of those who made up the early Church. We see herein that Paul, because he was half Jew and half Greek, and at the insistence of the Jews, had Timotheus circumcised. Paul knew it was not necessary to circumcise Timotheus, but he did it anyway, just to appease the Jews.

This lesson begins Paul's tutelage of Timotheus (Timothy), which would make him a powerful defender of the faith.~