Paul’s Big Mistake??? (Acts 16: 1-10)

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Welcome

Today we’ll be examining Acts 16:1-10 to understand the decisions made by the Apostle Paul and how they can guide us in our own decision-making processes. Was Paul really inconsistent, or is there something deeper at play? Let's find out together.

Episode Notes:

Introduction

• Have you ever been accused of being inconsistent?
• Even the Apostle Paul faced accusations of inconsistency.
• The focus of today’s episode is on Paul’s decision regarding circumcision, an act some view as his big mistake.

Key Points

1. Paul's Decision to Circumcise Timothy
   • Timothy’s background: Jewish mother, Greek father.
   • Paul circumcised Timothy to avoid hindrances in ministry among Jews.
   • The decision was strategic, not a compromise of the gospel.
2. Practical Decision-Making
   • Importance of removing barriers to the gospel.
   • Sometimes practical decisions are necessary for the greater mission.
3. Guidance by the Holy Spirit
   • Paul and companions were directed by the Holy Spirit.
   • God's guidance can sometimes mean closed doors, leading to new opportunities.

Application to Our Lives

• Making Good Decisions
  • Combine practical wisdom with spiritual discernment.
  • Keep the mission of the gospel at the forefront.
• Spiritual Growth Pattern
  • Trust Christ.
  • Grow in Christ.
  • Serve Christ in that order.

Paul's Strategy

• Adapt customs to reach different groups without compromising faith.
• Example from 1 Corinthians 9:19-22: Becoming all things to all people to save some.

Importance of Teaching and Strengthening Churches

• Acts 16:4-5: Churches strengthened in faith and grew in numbers.

Following God’s Will

• Detours are not disasters but can be God’s way of directing us to greater opportunities.
• Trusting God’s plan even when it seems counterintuitive.

Conclusion

• Paul's decision-making was based on God’s will and wisdom.
• Seek God’s will through His Word and apply practical wisdom.
• Detours in life can lead to unexpected blessings and align with God’s greater plan.

Thank you for joining me today I this episode has provided valuable insights into making godly decisions and trusting in God’s perfect plan. Stay tuned for more episodes where we continue to explore the rich truths of the Bible and their application to our lives.

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• 18:42 (Cont.) Paul’s Big Mistake??? (Acts 16: 1-10)

Transcript

Paul’s Big Mistake.

(Acts 16: 1-10)

Transcript:

Let me ask you a question. Have you ever been accused of being inconsistent? Has anyone ever pointed out that you were doing one thing one moment and something completely different the next? 

Well, if that’s the case, you’re in good company. What would you think if I told you that no less than the Apostle Paul was accused of being inconsistent? In fact, what he did is even referred to by some as Paul's big mistake. But was what Paul did really an example of inconsistency, was it even a mistake

I say this because I'm alluding to at one point in his ministry where Paul argued against having people circumcised, and then shortly thereafter, he agreed to have someone circumcised. Does that sound a bit inconsistent to you? It does to a lot of people, and that’s why they accuse Paul of making a mistake, specifically when it came to the application of circumcision. 

What I want to do today is look at a passage where Paul made this decision, and I want us to address what he did. But beyond that, I want us to see how we can apply the principles from this passage in our own decision-making process…..

Let’s start by reading Acts 16:1-10:

1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they travelled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

6 Paul and his companions then travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

(Acts 16: 1-10)

This message is, in one sense, rather simple. The first part tells us about Paul meeting Timothy, who would accompany him on what will be called his second missionary journey. 

Then the latter part of the passage describes their travels beyond meeting Timothy. Both halves of the section tell us about decisions Paul made. So, as we examine these verses, I want to highlight what Paul did and how he came to those conclusions.

Let’s begin by looking at his meeting with Timothy. This is the beginning of Paul's second missionary journey, around 50 AD, about a year and a half after his first journey through this territory where we saw him established churches in that region.

On his first missionary journey, Paul visited Lystra, led people to Christ, and established a church there. Now, he’s back, and the text introduces us to a disciple named Timothy.

Timothy, we are told was the son of a Jewish mother and a Greek father, making him half Jewish and half Gentile. Apparently, on Paul's first journey, he had led Timothy's mother to faith, and possibly Timothy as well. From Paul's later letters to Timothy, we know that Paul regarded Timothy as his spiritual child, suggesting that he had a significant role in Timothy’s conversion.

What’s important to note is that Timothy was not just a believer; he was described as a disciple—a learner. The opening verses also tell us that Timothy was well spoken of by the people of the church in both Lystra and Iconium. So, Paul comes back and finds that Timothy, a young man he had previously led to Christ, and sees that he has grown in his faith and is highly regarded by the local believers.

However, there’s a twist. Paul decides to circumcise Timothy. This decision might seem inconsistent, especially since Paul had previously argued vehemently against the necessity of circumcision for Gentile converts. Why would Paul do this? 

The text tells us why he did this: "because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek." You see Paul understood that for Timothy to have an effective ministry among the Jews, it would be advantageous for him to be circumcised.

This decision wasn’t about compromising the gospel but about removing a potential stumbling block to his ministry there. Paul made a strategic decision to enhance their combined ability to reach both Jews and Gentiles with the gospel. 

I believe this tells us something crucial about decision-making: sometimes, we need to make practical decisions that help us better fulfil our mission, even if they might seem inconsistent to some on the surface.

Next, we see how Paul and his companions being "forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia" and later “prevented,” from entering Bithynia by "the Spirit of Jesus." This isn’t just God blocking their way it is also God guiding and directing them to the right places at the right times, ultimately leading them to Macedonia via Paul having a vision.

Therefore, firstly we have seen Paul’s decision-making process recognising the importance of being strategic and practical in our decisions making sometimes, especially when it comes to removing barriers to the gospel. 

Secondly, we have also seen the necessity of being sensitive to the leading of Holy Spirit and how making good, godly decisions can involve a combination of practical wisdom and spiritual discernment.

So, how do you make good, godly decisions? Be practical, be sensitive to the Spirit, and always keep the mission of the gospel at the forefront of your mind. 

At this point, Timothy accompanies Paul and begins to serve the Lord alongside him.

What we have witnessed in Timothy is the pattern for spiritual growth:

·        Trust Christ.

·        Grow in Christ.

·        And serve Christ—in that order. 

Some churches get this order wrong. They push new believers into service too quickly, sometimes before they are spiritually ready. 

New Christians need time to grow in their faith before taking on service roles.

The Bible warns us not to lay hands suddenly on people, meaning we shouldn’t rush people into leadership roles too quickly. The correct order is to become a child of God, to become spiritually minded, and then become a servant.

You might recall that in the previous chapter, Paul, Barnabas, Peter, James, and other apostles declared that circumcision was not required for Gentile believers. They even wrote a letter to the churches stating this decision. But what Paul did for Timothy was not about inconsistency.

Paul had Timothy circumcised to ensure their acceptance in being allowed into Jewish synagogues, where Timothy's uncircumcised status would have been a barrier, literally stopping him from being able to even enter the synagogues.

Paul was not compromising the gospel but rather removing obstacles to its proclamation. He wanted to ensure that nothing hindered their ministry among the Jews. This was a matter of strategic decision-making.

Paul had him circumcised because he wanted Timothy to go with him and serve alongside him. 

If we turn to 1 Corinthians 9 Paul is talking about exactly this sort of situation here. Look at verse 19:

“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews, I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.”

By having Timothy circumcised, Paul was adopting Jewish customs to win the Jews over. Verse 20 continues:

“To those under the law, I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.” 

Paul is saying that he would observe Jewish customs, like circumcision, when it was necessary to reach Jews. Then he adds:

“To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.”

This principle means Paul would adapt to the customs of those he was trying to reach, without ever compromising his own faith or values. Verse 22:

 “To the weak, I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” 

The principle here is one of Paul making decisions based on what was wise for the sake of the gospel.

He was exercising wisdom in his ministry. If he encountered a weak Christian who believed that eating meat offered to idols was wrong, Paul would avoid eating such meat in front of them to not cause the weaker brother to stumble. He became weak to the weak to win them over. 

A modern example might be us not drinking in front of people who have a history of alcohol abuse or addiction.

Now, let’s go back to Acts 16:4:

“As they travelled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.”

Look at the result in verse 5:

“So, the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.” As the churches received instruction and teaching, they grew stronger in their faith and increased in number daily. 

They were strengthened because they were taught the Scriptures and grew in their ability to trust the Lord.

Now, let’s move on to the rest of the passage. Acts 16:6 tells us about their travels:

“Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.” 

This is fascinating stuff. The region referred to as Asia here is not what we think of as the Far East today; it is the Roman province of Asia, which is in modern-day Turkey.

So, they were forbidden to go into that area. How did God forbid them? We don't know for sure. Some suggest it might have been through circumstances. 

Others suggest that it was a result of prophecy. Now Silas was with them on this trip, and he had been referred to as a prophet. Maybe a word communicated from Silas told them they should not go into Asia. But, at any rate, they didn't go.

This is really fascinating. Paul wanted to go, and God said no. Isn't it interesting that Paul, an apostle, wasn't clear about what he should do next? 

Many, many Christians have said to me over the years, "I'm not sure what to do next?" Paul faced the same type of uncertainty. He wanted to go to Bithynia, but the Spirit would not permit it. He wanted to visit other regions, but God said no.

Sometimes God uses a closed door to direct you to an open door. It's interesting to note that when Peter wrote 1 Peter, he addressed the letter to churches in places like Bithynia. 

So, it seems the Lord told Peter go to Bithynia, even though He had closed that door to Paul. What was Paul supposed to do? The text tells us that they went to Troas. There, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

When Paul had seen the vision, immediately they planned to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called them to preach the gospel there.

A few observations here: When they left to start the second missionary journey, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let’s go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing" (Acts 15:36). They revisited the churches they had started and then sought to go beyond their original points. They were then called to go to Macedonia, and this was confirmed by the vision.

If you read Acts carefully, you'll discover sections where the word "we" is used here. This indicates that the author, Luke, was including himself in the narrative now This is the first time it happens in this account, suggesting that at this point, in Troas, Luke joined Paul and his companions. 

It seems they all went from there to Macedonia together.

Sometimes God may indeed still lead people today by giving visions, however I am persuaded that more often today God uses His Word to help direct our lives and ministries. For us today, everything we need to know about the will of God is embedded in the Bible. God openly reveals His will through His Word.

If you read this carefully, you will see that the will of God here included things to avoid and things to pursue.

One other observation: This was a detour for Paul. He wanted to go to other places, but God rerouted him to Macedonia.

Detours are not necessarily disasters. If Paul had gone to Bithynia or Asia, he would have taken Christianity in an entirely different direction. But because of the Macedonian call, Paul went into Macedonia, which opened the door to Europe. Christianity thereafter spread to Rome and eventually to other parts of Europe, and from Europe, it would much later be taken to the continent of America.

Detours in our lives might seem like disruptions, but they can lead to new opportunities and directions that align with God's greater plan. 

The Macedonian call was a significant detour for Paul, but it was one that had a profound impact on the spread of Christianity.

So, this is one of the most historic moments in the history of the church. 

So, this detour was not a disaster at all; it was God's sovereign moving so that Christianity opened up to all of Europe eventually, which we will see a lot more of as we go through the book of Acts.

Alright, what is the conclusion of all of this? 

What did we learn about how Paul made decisions? 

I'm going to suggest it's very simple: Paul made decisions based on the will of God and the wisdom of God.

Paul made decisions not based on his own will or wisdom, but on God's will and wisdom. Paul's desire was to go to Asia or Bithynia, but God's will was for him to go to Macedonia.

So, the way you make a good decision is by determining what the will of God is from the Word of God. If you are grappling with a decision, you should ask yourself, "Is it covered in the Word?" Then, use some basic God-given wisdom, which often is just good old common sense. 

So, if you're facing a decision, here's the Godly formula:

What does the Word of God say is the will of God for me in this situation?

In some situations, this might mean you have to do something that seems counterintuitive, like Paul did here with Timothy.

But then, you let God produce the results. 

If you're following the will of God, it might seem like a detour, but it is never a detour in God's plan. It is a place of great blessing that you just might not be able to see immediately.

Let me share a story about a young woman who had a great desire to be a missionary in India. She prepared to go, but just as she was about to leave, her mother became very ill. She stayed home to care for her mother, who lived for three more years.

After her mother passed away, she prepared again to go to India. Just as she was ready, her sister became severely ill, and she had to repeat the process of caring for here until she became well again.

Eventually, her sister got better, and once again, she set her eyes on India. But then her sister's husband died, and then a few months later her sister suddenly died leaving five children with no one to care for them. Her great ambition was detoured once again, and she helped raised those five children.

“This devastated grieving mourning household seems to become my mission field." She served faithfully in that way for 15 years. 

As she grew older, she realized why the Lord did not answer her prayer to go to India and why her personal plans seemed to have been frustrated. 

That was because she grew to see that over a period of a few years three of those five children commit their lives to missionary service overseas in India. 

She reaped benefits 300%.

So, if you make decisions based on the will of God and the wisdom of God, sometimes He may send you someplace you didn't think you were going to go. But that is not a disaster; that's where He wants you to be, and you should serve there joyfully. 

She wrote in her diary, reflecting on her life, I now see that.

"All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose"

That’s Romans 8:28 by the way