Acts 16:3 BSB — MannaFest

Acts 16:3

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

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.

⋯

Commentary

6 voices

Tertullian

On Modesty (220)

Even if, for certain, the apostle had granted pardon of fornication to that Corinthian, it would be another instance of his once for all contravening his own practice to meet the requirement of the time. He circumcised Timotheus alone, and yet did away with circumcision.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

Origen of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 13.111 (253)

[But] perhaps it has been recorded at some time or other with good reason that even the true worshiper who worships in spirit and truth performs certain symbolic acts so that, by acting in a most accommodating manner, he might free those who are enslaved to the symbol and bring them to the truth that the symbols represent. Paul appears to have done this in the case of Timothy, and perhaps also in Cenchrea and Jerusalem, as it is written in the Acts of the Apostles.

The Reformation1 voice

John Calvin

1509–1564

Commentaries (1554)

Now, the question is, whether it were lawful for Paul to use a vain sign, whose signification and force was abolished; for it seemeth a vain thing when there is a departure made from the institution of God. But circumcision was commanded by God to continue only until the coming of Christ.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

He took and circumcised him because of the Jews - The unbelieving Jews, to whom he designed he should preach. For they would not have conversed with him at all, so long as he was uncircumcised.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

His would be one of "the souls of the disciples confirmed" at the apostle's second visit, "exhorted to continue in the faith, and" warned "that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Ac 14:21, 22). the son of a certain . . .

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

But before his departure, Paul took and circumcised him--a rite which every Israelite might perform. because of the Jews . . . for they knew all that his father was a Greek--This seems to imply that the father was no proselyte. Against the wishes of a Gentile father no Jewish mother was, as the Jews themselves say, permitted to circumcise her son.

Voices on this verse

loading…

Original language & word study

29 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
τοῦτον	touton	This one	G3778 →
ἠθέλησεν	ēthelēsen	wanted	G2309 →
ὁ	ho	<the>	G3588 →
Παῦλος	Paulos	Paul	G3972 →
σὺν	sun	with	G4862 →
αὐτῷ	autō	him	G846 →
ἐξελθεῖν,	exelthein	to go forth,	G1831 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
λαβὼν	labōn	having taken	G2983 →
περιέτεμεν	perietemen	he circumcised	G4059 →
αὐτὸν	auton	him	G846 →
διὰ	dia	on account of	G1223 →
τοὺς	tous	the	G3588 →
Ἰουδαίους	Ioudaious	Jews	G2453 →
τοὺς	tous	those	G3588 →
ὄντας	ontas	being	G1510 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
τοῖς	tois	the	G3588 →
τόποις	topois	parts	G5117 →
ἐκείνοις·	ekeinois	those;	G1565 →
ᾔδεισαν	ēdeisan	they knew	G1492 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ἅπαντες	hapantes	all	G537 →
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
Ἕλλην	Hellēn	a Greek	G1672 →
ὁ	ho	the	G3588 →
πατὴρ	patēr	father	G3962 →
αὐτοῦ	autou	of him	G846 →
ὑπῆρχεν.	hupērchen	was.	G5225 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
leads to
- Galatians 6:15
  For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
- 1 Corinthians 7:19
  Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3
  and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- James 2:14–26
  What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
- Matthew 25:31–40
  When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
Through
1 Corinthians 9:20
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win…
leads to
- Galatians 5:18
  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- Acts 21:20–26
  When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.
Through
Galatians 2:3
Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
leads to
- Galatians 5:2–6
  Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

Featured studies on this passage

The Temptation in the Wilderness — Briton Rivière

Walks through Acts 16

Led by the Spirit

Open the study →

Walks through Acts 16

Lydia: Acts 16:11–15, 40 · MannaFest

Open the study →

Walks through Acts 16

Paul and Silas at Midnight — Acts 16

Open the study →

Walks through Acts 16

The Seven Churches of Revelation

Asia Minor, late 1st century. Seven cities along a clockwise postal route — Ephesus to Laodicea — each receiving a letter from the risen Christ. Praises, rebukes, promises. A Matt-13 parallel reading discoverable for those who want it.

Open the study →

Walks through Acts 16

The Tree

Open the study →

About Acts

The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Acts: the study guide →Read chapter 16 →The featured study →

PersonNew TestamentTimothyThe young disciple from Lystra, son of a believing Jewish mother and a Greek father, who joined Paul on the second journey and bec…

Continue: Acts 16 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Acts

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Acts