Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 16]
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16:1 {And he came also to Derbe and Lystra} (\kat•nt•sen de kai
eis Derb•n kai eis Lustran\). First aorist active of \katanta•\,
late verb to come down to, to arrive at. He struck Derbe first of
the places in the first tour which was the last city reached
then. {Timothy} (\Timotheos\). Apparently a native of Lystra
("there," \ekei\), his Hebrew mother named Eunice and grandmother
Lois (2Ti 1:5) and his Greek father's name not known. He may
have been a proselyte, but not necessarily so as Timothy was
taught the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother (2Ti 3:15),
and, if a proselyte, he would have had Timothy circumcised. It is
idle to ask if Paul came on purpose to get Timothy to take Mark's
place. Probably Timothy was about eighteen years of age, a
convert of Paul's former visit a few years before (1Ti 1:2) and
still young twelve years later (1Ti 4:12). Paul loved him
devotedly (1Ti 1:3; 5:23; 2Ti 3:15; Php 2:19f.). It is a
glorious discovery to find a real young preacher for Christ's
work.
16:2 {Was well reported of} (\emartureito\). Imperfect passive.
It was a continuous witness that was borne the young disciple
both in his home town of Lystra and in Derbe. Already he had so
borne himself that his gifts and graces for the ministry were
recognized. It is a wise precaution that the approval of the
local church is necessary for the licensing and the ordaining of
a preacher. If God has called a man for the work signs of it will
be manifest to others.
16:3 {Him would Paul have to go forth with him} (\touton
•thel•sen ho Paulos sun aut•i exelthein\). This one (note
emphatic position) Paul wanted (first aorist active indicative of
\thel•\ with temporal augment as if from \ethel•\ the old form).
Here was a gifted young man who was both Jew and Greek. {He took
and circumcised him} (\lab•n perietemen auton\). Any one could
perform this rite. Paul had stoutly resisted circumcision in the
case of Titus, a pure Greek (Ga 2:3,5), because the whole
principle of Gentile liberty was at stake. But Timothy was both
Jew and Greek and would continually give offence to the Jews with
no advantage to the cause of Gentile freedom. So here for the
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Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Acts: Chapter 16)