1. “Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek.”
To natural sight, Timothy didn’t possess the qualifications seemingly needed for ministering to the beloved Apostle Paul. He was timid by nature, coming from an ethnically divided home—Hebrew mother and Greek father—having a saved mother and, probably, an unsaved father.
Yet this vessel would later be characterized by the Apostle as one ministering among the people of God who would “naturally care for your state.” What a wonderful encouragement for a godly parent, yearning for a child, but who feels their family circumstances are not all they ought to be.
2. “Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.”
A nice commendation of those who knew Timothy best! They saw him daily. “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right” (Prov. 20:1111Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. (Proverbs 20:11)). One who would serve Christ needs to be commended to the consciences of brethren. How grave to undertake Christian ministry when believers who know us best have serious reservations about our testimony or qualifications.
3. “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.”
Jewish law (and certainly Jewish prejudice) would seem to deny circumcision to the son of a mixed marriage (see especially Ezra and Nehemiah, where the wives of mixed marriages were sent away). But Paul acts in the liberty of the Spirit, showing grace to the Jews of that place. May it be that every act of our lives is marked by grace.
4. “And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.”
5. “And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.”
When our heart’s desire is to shepherd the people of God, doing so according to the truth of God, the saints of God will be strengthened and encouraged.
6-8. “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.”
A servant of Christ must ever be submitted and sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. Otherwise, service becomes a matter of self-will and self-pleasing. Paul may have seen many opportunities to preach the gospel in Asia and Bithynia, and evidently he desired to do so, but the Spirit of God did not allow him go there at this time.
We should not be discouraged in service for the Lord just because things don’t seem to work out as we had intended or thought they would. When forbidden of the Spirit to go to one place, Paul submits and goes to another. For a time it may have seemed to Paul that he had missed the Lord’s mind, but, by faith, he does not give up in discouragement—nor should we. “Wait on the Lord” (Psa. 27:1414Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)).
9. “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.”
Having submitted and waited, the Apostle receives a clear direction from the Lord by means of the vision. If submitted to His will and waiting for His direction, the Lord will, in His perfect time and perfect way, make the path plain to the servant. What happy words for a servant to hear! “Come over . . . and help us.” Paul received an invitation, the direction, and a purpose for his ministry. All was now plain.
10. “And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”
With a sense of the Lord’s leading, Paul and his company immediately acted. Faith both waits and acts. We often get the order mixed up—acting when we should be waiting, or waiting when we should be acting. The Lord grant us to trust Him fully!
11-12. “Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.”
As far as we know, the vision that Paul had received gave no specifics concerning the location at which he was to arrive. What is very clear is that the Apostle and his company went to Macedonia as quickly as possible and, evidently, by the shortest route possible.
Perhaps all too often when the Lord has laid an exercise of service on our hearts, we hesitate, wanting to know ahead of time how all the details will be worked out. But such reasoning is not faith. Once there is the assurance of the Lord’s command to go, let us do so by faith, trusting Him for each step of the way.
13. “And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.”
A man had called Paul in the vision, but his company was evidently content to be found with that which speaks of weakness rather than power—the “women which” came to pray. The city of Philippi may have seemed to have offered far more possibilities for a large and active service, but Paul was content to be identified with those who acted in dependence on God. How good for each who seeks to serve the Lord to be found in the attitude of prayerful dependence.
Ed.