Acts 16:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →On his second journey Paul returns to Derbe and Lystra, where he finds a young disciple named Timotheus, the son of a believing Jewish mother and a Greek father.
What Does Acts 16:1 Mean?
Paul is revisiting towns he first evangelized with Barnabas (Acts 14), now traveling with Silas. At Lystra, where Paul had once been stoned and left for dead, the gospel has quietly taken root: a young disciple named Timotheus, or Timothy, is there, raised in the faith by his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5).
In the very town of Paul's deepest suffering, God was already preparing his future companion and 'son in the faith' (1 Timothy 1:2). Timothy's home was religiously divided, yet a faithful mother's influence shaped a servant of Christ whose name churches across the world would come to know. No seed sown in hard ground is wasted, and no household is too complicated for grace.
Acts 16:1 in the Original Language
Timotheos (Τιμόθεος), 'Timotheus' -- a Greek name meaning 'honoring God.'
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 16:1
What does Acts 16:1 mean?
On his second journey Paul returns to Derbe and Lystra, where he finds a young disciple named Timotheus, the son of a believing Jewish mother and a Greek father.