James Nisbet Commentary - Acts 16:1 - 16:3

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James Nisbet Commentary - Acts 16:1 - 16:3


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THE CALL OF TIMOTHY

‘Then came he to Derbe and Lystra; and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus … Him would Paul have to go forth with him.’

Act_16:1-3

We now enter upon what is called St. Paul’s ‘Second Missionary Journey.’ Leaving Antioch, in company with Silas, ‘recommended by the brethren to the grace of God,’ St. Paul entered upon his second missionary journey. He had already twice visited Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, and now he proposes to visit them a third time. Assuming that when in Cilicia he would visit Tarsus, his native place, it would take about three days to go from Tarsus to Derbe. This time he reverses the journey, and goes to Derbe first, which was the last visited in the former visit (ch. Act_14:20-21). But the Apostle did not stay long here, but went on to Lystra, where he was stoned. He would not forget that: would recall the scene, tell it to Silas, and refer to the kindness of the disciples, especially of two Jewish women who belonged to the company. These two Jewish women were Lois and Eunice, the mother and grandmother of Timothy. It was probably to their house that St. Paul went on arriving at Lystra.

I. God’s remedy for St. Paul’s disappointment.—St. Paul had left Antioch oppressed by the separation, oppressed by the illness which for a long season now had hampered his path, but God, in the midst of his weariness, opened His hand and let rich blessing flow from it. He knew too well the struggle which His servant had passed through, knew that a stand for the right, which entails the loss of friendship, is far bitterer than any perils of waters or perils of robbers, and, therefore, He Who had taken away gave yet more richly to His servant. Timothy, who had been but a youth when Paul was at Lystra on his first journey, was now well reported of, not only by the Church of Lystra, but also by that of Iconium, and was recommended to St. Paul for further service. From this time forward St. Paul was accompanied by one who, ‘as a son with a father,’ served him faithfully until the very eve of his martyrdom. Is it not ever so? God sympathises with the disappointment of his servants and, where there is really faithful service, gives strength, grace, and companionship even more richly.

II. Timothy’s characteristic.—From a child he had known the Holy Scriptures, and had thus became wise unto salvation. The greatest leaders in the Church, the men who have inherited the finest type of character, are usually found among those who from their childhood up have been surrounded by the highest influences, have learned the true perspective of life, have seen the vision of eternal truth, and instead of rebelling against it, instead of yielding to the inborn impulse against established order, have apprehended the truth thus put before them, and have moulded their life in accordance with it.

III. ‘All things to all men.’—It is in connection with the call of Timothy that we find a striking illustration of the principle which bids us become all things to all men if by so doing we may save some. St. Paul knew and taught that circumcision was nothing, yet in the present instance, in order that Timothy might minister more efficiently to Jews as well as Greeks, he circumcised him himself and removed what might have been a cause of stumbling. Then having circumcised Timothy he ordained him for the work of the ministry and rejoiced in the special gift of the Holy Ghost, which, as we can see from after references to his ordination, was given him at that time. Thus, St. Paul bids him ‘stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands,’ and again, ‘neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery’ (1Ti_4:14). What a strange thrill this echo of a far-away ordination service gives us!

IV. A son in the faith.—Prepared for the willing reception of the Gospel by the godly education of his childhood, Timothy became St. Paul’s ‘own son in the faith.’ From references in the Epistles we see how useful Timothy was to St. Paul. From Corinth he was sent to the Thessalonians, ‘to establish and comfort them in their faith,’ and from Ephesus he was sent to the Corinthians, ‘to bring them into remembrance’ of the truth they seem to have forgotten. He passed through his preparation for the ministry in a loyal and earnest spirit, and afterwards, it is believed, became Bishop of Ephesus.

Illustration

‘No name is so closely associated with St. Paul as that of Timothy. Not only were two Epistles addressed to him, but he is associated with St. Paul in the superscription of five (1, 2 Thess., 2 Cor., Phil., Col.); he was with the Apostle during great part of his second missionary journey; he was with him at Ephesus; he accompanied him in his last voyage to Jerusalem; he helped to comfort his first imprisonment at Rome; he is urged in the Second Epistle addressed to him to hasten from Ephesus and to join him in his second imprisonment before it is too late to see him alive. Some sixteen years had elapsed between the days when Paul took Timothy as his companion at Lystra, and the days when, in the weary desolation of his imprisoned age, he writes once more to this beloved disciple. Yet even at this latter date St. Paul addresses him as though he were the same youth who had first accompanied him to the hallowed work.’