Acts 16:1

Acts 16:1 says, 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:  Paul and Silas came to Derbe in Lystra, they met a young disciple named Timotheus, or Timothy as he will later be known by.  He was the son of a woman who was a Jewess who believed.  She shared a heritage with Paul and Silas as Jews who had come to accept Christ as the Messiah. Timothy’s father was a Greek, a Gentile.  We are not told that his father was a believer.  If that were the case, then Timotheus had several things going against him becoming a Christian.  He was the son of a Jewess married to a Gentile.  His mother had accepted Christ as the Messiah. Both things would have caused her to be rejected by the Jews. We must never let the circumstances of our birth prevent us from accepting the salvation that Christ has made available.  Verse two adds, Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium   We are told that this was well reported by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium.  Whether this referred to the character of Timotheus the disciple or to the fact of his birth, we really aren't told.  Verse three continues, 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.  Either way, Paul wanted to take him on their journey. Now, after just concluding the question about circumcision, and declaring it an unnecessary burden, Paul had Timothy circumcised because of the Jews.  We are told it is because people knew his father was a Greek, but that doesn't matter to the gospel.  We can also speculate that maybe having rejected Mark that Paul wanted to teach another young believer.  Verse four states, 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.  Then, as they went through the cities, they delivered the decrees declared by the elders and apostles at Jerusalem.  Our main objective should be spreading the gospel, no matter what the religious leaders may say.  Verse five adds, So, the churches were established in faith and grew in numbers.  We must always work to see the churches established in faith and growing in number, even if we do not agree totally with what all other Christians are doing. As long as the gospel is being preached, the church established in faith, and growing in number, then we should all rejoice in the Lord.  Verse six continues, And when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,  With Timothy accompanying them. Paul and Silas went to Phrygia and the region of Galatia but were forbidden by the Holy Ghost from preaching the word in Asia. We are not told why they were prevented from preaching in Asia, nor are we told how the Holy Ghost prevented them from preaching.  We can only conclude that the time was not right for them to go into Asia and that they were attuned to the Holy Ghost enough to know what He wanted for them.  Sometimes our plan may not be God's plan, so we must always be under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse seven says, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.  They then went to Mysia, with plans to go to Bithynia. Understand that they were not just out traveling but were spreading the gospel in these new areas.  Again, the Holy Spirit prevented them from going to Bithynia.  Verse eight adds, And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.  Being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go to Bithynia, went to Troas.  We may not always get to go where we want to go to share the gospel, but as Christians, God will always have a place for us to witness.