Acts 16:7

“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: which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 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.” ( ch. xvi. 1-3 .) It is indeed amazing, the wisdom of Paul! He that has had so many battles about circumcision, he that moved all things to this end, and did not give over until he had carried his point, now that the decree is made sure, circumcises the disciple. He not only does not forbid others, but himself does this thing. ( b ) “Him,” it says, “he would have to go forth with him.” And the wonder is this, that he even took him unto him. …

“He went,” it says, “through” the cities “And, behold, there was a disciple, by name Timothy, who had a good report of the brethren which were in Lystra and Iconium.” ( v. 41; xvi. 1 .) Great was the grace of Timothy. When Barnabas departed ( ἀπέστη ), he finds another, equivalent to him. Of him he saith, “Remembering thy tears and thy unfeigned faith, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice.” ( 2 Tim. i. 5 .) His father continued to be a Gentile, and therefore it was that (Timothy) was not circumcised. ( a ) Observe the Law already broken. Or if not so, I suppose he was born after the preaching of the Gospel but this is perhaps not so. ( c ) He was about to make him a bishop, and it was not meet that he should be uncircumcised. …

What sayest thou? does Satan hinder? Yes, truly, for this was not the work of God. For in the Epistle to the Romans, he says this, that God hindered him (from Rom. xv. 22 .); and elsewhere Luke says, that “the Spirit” hindered them from going into Asia. ( Acts xvi. 7 .) And in the Epistle to the Corinthians he says, that it is the work of the Spirit, but here only of Satan. But what hindrance of Satan is he speaking of? Some unexpected and violent temptations: for a plot, it says, being formed against him by the Jews, he was detained three months in Greece. But it is another thing to remain for the sake of the dispensation, and willingly. For there he says, “Wherefore having no more place in these parts” ( Rom. xv. 23 .), and, “To spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.” ( 2 Cor. i. 23 .) But here nothing of this sort. But what? That “Satan hindered” him. …

xvi. 6, 7 . They were forbidden to preach where they chose. 18. Even the Apostles, with their full light, show their dependence on grace.