Devine Scripture

Acts 16:1

What does Acts 16:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 16:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 16:1 means

Paul revisits Derbe and Lystra and finds Timothy, already a disciple. Timothy’s mother is a believing Jewess, while his father is a Greek. This mixed background explains Timothy’s familiarity with Scripture through his mother and his uncircumcised status through his father. Luke highlights Timothy’s faith before his formal association with Paul, showing that God had prepared a helper for Paul’s next season. The mention of his parents signals the growing reach of the gospel into households of diverse heritage. Timothy will become a trusted co-worker, and here we see the providence of God in raising up a next-generation leader from earlier missionary fruit in Lystra, where Paul had previously ministered and suffered.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess that believed; but his father was a Greek.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess that believed; but his father was a Greek.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he came to Derbe and Lystra: and there was a certain disciple there named Timothy, whose mother was one of the Jews of the faith, but his father was a Greek;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he came to Derbe and Lystra, and lo, a certain disciple was there, by name Timotheus son of a certain woman, a believing Jewess, but of a father, a Greek,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, there was a certain disciple there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman that believed: but his father was a Gentile.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, by name Timotheus, son of a Jewish believing woman, but [the] father a Greek,

Context

Acts 16 begins Paul’s second missionary journey after the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15. He retraces steps through southern Galatia to strengthen existing churches. Verse 1 sets the stage for adding Timothy to the team, an important development for both pastoral care and mission. The next verse will underline Timothy’s reputation across nearby cities, preparing us to understand why Paul chooses him. This frame helps readers see continuity with earlier ministry and anticipate the practical steps Paul takes to build a team suited to varied Jewish and Gentile contexts ahead.

v.1This passage

v.2The same was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 16:21

    Timothy my fellow-worker saluteth you; and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:14

    For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

  • Ezra 9:2

    For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

  • Acts 20:4

    And there accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater of Beroea, the son of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:2

    and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;

  • Acts 14:6

    they became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about:

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