Acts 15:41-16:5

Read Acts 15:41-16:5

Last week we looked at the contention that arose regarding John Mark. It appears then that they have agreed to disagree and go their separate ways...so Paul and Silas now go on their way and the Word tells us that they pass through many areas, encouraging the churches they encounter...

But note in this section what it says of Timothy...we are introduced to this future evangelist and pastor and are told that he is only half Jewish...however, since his mother was the Jewish one, he would have been Jewish according to the law...HOWEVER...it is apparent that he was not circumcised and so we see the interesting little drama here played out where Timothy is circumcised! And he is circumcised at Paul's behest, "because of the Jews who were in that region."

Now I don't know how old Timothy would have been at this point...but certainly he was not a child!

In Genesis 34 we have the account of Jacob's sons convincing a whole village to become circumcised...and the Word tells us in verses 24-25 that 3 days later the men are still in such pain that the sons of Jacob come right into the village and slaughter all the men!

So this was not something Timothy could have done and act as if nothing had happened...this was a serious operation being done on him!

Yet remember that Paul had only recently addressed the Jerusalem council and spoken out against requiring circumcision...and we know that in his Corinthians letters as well as in Romans he reiterates that true circumcision is of the heart!

So why the circumcision of Timothy?

One likely answer for this is found in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (read)

Keep in mind that unless Timothy had been knocked out and tied up...he most likely was in full agreement about what was to be done to him...so the purpose of the circumcision was not to bring Timothy into some inner sanctum and full membership in the Church...it was to make him acceptable to those among whom he was to preach..."the Jews who were in that region."

Timothy would preach to the Gentiles and to the Jews and neither would have any reason to reject his ministry...the Jews would see him as clean, the Greeks would know he was of their blood.

So long as no sin was committed then, so long as the circumcision was not entered into as a means to denote salvation or requirement thereof....then what was done should not be seen as a flaunting of the Jerusalem decree...after all...this was the very decree Paul and Silas were engaged in announcing, as we see in verse 4!!


Note now verse 5)
"the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily"

I will never tire of addressing this following point since it is obvious from the frequency of its mention in the Word that it is very important!

So this is what comes to mind as I read verse 5:
It was necessary for the church leadership to bring about a decree and settle dissension in the ranks...and having proclaimed the decisions of the elders and apostles, the church was solidified, strengthened, and encouraged by Paul, Silas, and now Timothy...and the church grew!

It was the soundness of the church...it was the focus on correct teaching, if you will, that led to growth of the church...

Now I realize, trust me, that it was the Holy Spirit that caused this growth to occur...but what I am saying is that the kind of healthy growth a church needs is that which comes when sound doctrine is taught...and when the practice of holy living is encouraged...required even.

Growth WILL come to a church that compromises with the world...growth WILL come to a church that fails to stand on God's Word...we have only to look at the cults for proof of this...But that kind of growth, without any sound doctrine to cause it...without the encouragement and presence of holy living, of exhortation, and of accountability...that kind of growth is NOT an indicator of a successful church...no matter how huge the numbers...such a church is NOT successful and should not be emulated! Look to Acts for a church worthy of emulation...look especially to Acts 2:42.

Let us pray