Timothy Joins Paul and Churches Are Strengthened
Acts 16:1-5
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Acts.16.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Κατηντησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- Δερβην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- Λυστραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ιδου: PART
- μαθητης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εκει: ADV
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- Τιμοθεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- γυναικος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Ιουδαιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- πιστης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- Ελληνος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 16:2 (structural): Immediate narrative context: follows introduction of Timothy by noting his good reputation among the brothers in Lystra and Iconium, continuing the same episode.
- Acts 16:3 (verbal): Directly related action: Paul circumcises Timothy because of the Jews in those regions — a development based on Timothy's mixed parentage (Jewish mother, Greek father) stated in 16:1.
- 2 Timothy 1:5 (thematic): Paul later recalls the sincere faith of Timothy's mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois), echoing 16:1's note that Timothy's mother was a believer.
- Philippians 2:20-22 (thematic): Paul's later testimony that Timothy genuinely cares for the churches and has proved himself like a son in the work reflects the identity and role of Timothy introduced in Acts 16:1 as a disciple attached to Paul's mission.
Alternative generated candidates
- Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. There was a certain disciple there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; his father, however, was a Greek.
- Paul came to Derbe and Lystra. There was a certain disciple there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who believed; but his father was a Greek.
Acts.16.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εμαρτυρειτο: VERB,impf,mp,ind,3,sg
- υπο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- Λυστροις: PROPN,dat,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- Ικονιω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αδελφων·: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 16:1 (structural): Immediate context: introduces Timothy as a disciple from Lystra and Iconium; v.2 continues the thought by reporting the brethren's testimony about him.
- Acts 16:3 (structural): Follows v.2 and explains Paul's decision to circumcise Timothy because of the Jews in those regions, linking the local testimony to practical ministry concerns.
- Acts 14:21-22 (thematic): Records Paul and Barnabas' ministry in Lystra and Iconium where they strengthened the disciples—background for the brethren who could attest to Timothy's character.
- Acts 14:19-20 (thematic): Narrates the persecution and recovery of Paul in Lystra, illustrating the formative local church context from which Timothy's reputation arose.
- Philippians 2:22 (thematic): Paul's later commendation of Timothy as one 'proven' in service parallels the report of the brethren that Timothy was well spoken of.
Alternative generated candidates
- The brothers at Lystra and Iconium bore witness to him and spoke well of him.
- He had a good reputation among the brothers who were in Lystra and Iconium.
Acts.16.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τουτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ηθελησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Παυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- συν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εξελθειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- λαβων: PART,aor,act,nom,sg,m
- περιετεμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- Ιουδαιους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- οντας: PART,pres,act,acc,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- τοποις: ART,dat,pl,m
- εκεινοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ηδεισαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- γαρ: PART
- απαντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- Ελλην: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- υπηρχεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Acts 15:1-21 (thematic): The Jerusalem Council debates whether Gentile converts must be circumcised; provides the wider context for Paul’s pragmatic decisions about circumcision in mission settings.
- Galatians 2:3-5 (structural): Paul recounts that Titus, a Gentile, was not compelled to be circumcised—contrast with Timothy’s circumcision as a situational concession rather than doctrinal requirement.
- 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 (thematic): Paul describes adapting his practice to different groups (‘to the Jews I became as a Jew’)—parallels his decision to circumcise Timothy to avoid hindrance with Jewish audiences.
- Acts 21:20-26 (thematic): Paul participates in Jewish purification rites and pays expenses to show respect for the law—another instance of adopting Jewish practices to remove obstacles to the gospel.
Alternative generated candidates
- Paul wanted him to go with him; and because of the Jews in those places he circumcised him—for all knew that his father was a Greek.
- Paul wanted him to accompany him; so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those regions—for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Acts.16.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ως: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- διεπορευοντο: VERB,impf,mid/pass,ind,3,pl
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- πολεις: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- παρεδιδοσαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- φυλασσειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δογματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- κεκριμενα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- υπο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αποστολων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- πρεσβυτερων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- Ιεροσολυμοις: NOUN,dat,pl,n
Parallels
- Acts 15:22-29 (quotation): The written decision (the letter) from the Jerusalem apostles and elders outlining the decrees given to Gentile believers — Acts 16:4 refers to those very decrees being delivered for observance.
- Acts 15:6 (structural): Describes the meeting of 'the apostles and elders' in Jerusalem who judged the matter: Acts 16:4 references the decisions made by that same governing assembly.
- Acts 15:30-31 (structural): Reports the actual delivery of the Jerusalem letter to the Gentile churches — a direct parallel to Acts 16:4’s note that they handed over the decrees to be kept.
- Galatians 2:9-10 (thematic): Paul’s account of recognition and agreement with the Jerusalem leaders (James, Peter, John) and the mutual responsibilities (e.g., remembering the poor) echoes the theme of apostolic/elder authority and agreed directives referenced in Acts 16:4.
- Acts 14:23 (thematic): Paul and Barnabas appoint elders in the churches — relates to the role of 'apostles and elders' in establishing guidance and oversight mentioned in Acts 16:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- As they went through the cities they delivered to the churches the decrees that had been decided by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
- As they traveled from city to city, they delivered to them the decrees that had been decided by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to be observed.
Acts.16.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- μεν: PART
- ουν: CONJ
- εκκλησιαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εστερεουντο: VERB,impf,mp,ind,3,pl
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- πιστει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- επερισσευον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αριθμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- καθ᾽ημεραν: ADV
Parallels
- Acts 2:47 (verbal): Reports that the Lord 'added to their number day by day'—directly parallels the daily increase in Acts 16:5 and the communal growth of the church.
- Acts 5:14 (verbal): States that believers were increasingly added and multitudes joined—similar language about numeric expansion of the Christian community.
- Acts 6:7 (thematic): Describes the spread of the word and multiplication of disciples; thematically parallels church strengthening and growth resulting from effective ministry.
- Acts 9:31 (structural): Summarizes the church being 'built up' and increasing across regions—parallels Acts 16:5's emphasis on churches being strengthened in faith and growing.
- Acts 11:21 (thematic): Notes that 'a great number believed and turned to the Lord,' reflecting the same theme of conversions and quantitative growth found in Acts 16:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.
- So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. There was a disciple there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who believed; his father was a Greek.
The brothers at Lystra and Iconium bore good testimony about him.
Paul wanted him to go on with him; 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 through the cities they delivered to them the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.