English Standard Version
Acts 16:3
3Paul 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.
Acts 16:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.
- New Living Translation (NLT)so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek.
Context of Acts 16:3
1Paul 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. 2He 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. 4As 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. 5So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
Read all of Acts 16Acts 16:3 word by word
τοῦτον ἠθέλησεν ὁ Παῦλος σὺν αὐτῷ ἐξελθεῖν, καὶ λαβὼν περιέτεμεν αὐτὸν διὰ τοὺς Ἰουδαίους τοὺς ὄντας ἐν τοῖς τόποις ἐκείνοις· ᾔδεισαν γὰρ ἅπαντες ὅτι Ἕλλην ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ὑπῆρχεν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Himοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- have to go forthἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
- withσύνsun · withG4862
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- tookλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- and circumcisedπεριτέμνωperitemnō · to circumciseG4059
- becauseδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- of the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- which wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- thoseἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- quartersτόποςtopos · placeG5117
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- they knewεἴδωeidō · to perceive: knowG1492
- allἅπαςhapas · allG537
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- wasὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
- a GreekἝλλην=ἝλληνHellēn · Greek, GentileG1672
Cross-references for Acts 16:3
- Acts 15:37Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.
- Acts 15:20but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
- 1 Corinthians 7:19For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
- 1 Corinthians 9:20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
- Galatians 2:3But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.
- Galatians 5:1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Commentaries on Acts 16:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Took 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Him would Paul have - This was an instance of Paul‘s selecting young men of piety for the holy ministry. It shows: (1) That he was disposed to look up and call forth the talent in the church that might be usefully employed. It is quite evident that Timothy would not have thought of this had it not been suggested by Paul. The same thing education societies are attempting now to accomplish. (2) that Paul sought proper qualifications, and valued them…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Paul had Timothy circumcised to enhance Timothy’s acceptance and effectiveness as a Jew in Jewish circles. This was not the same as Titus, who was a full Gentile ("Greek"; Galatians 2:3). Elsewhere Paul clarified that it makes no difference to God whether one is circumcised or not circumcised (Romans 2:25–29; Galatians 5:6; 6:15). Paul was prepared to use any legitimate means to communicate the good news about Jesus to different audiences (1 Corinthians…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 16:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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