The Thoughts of Wesley son of Cornelius

“Pack your bags, Timothy!” (Acts 17 Wesley's Version) With Paul and Paul’s companions, Timothy would begin his travels in Phrygia and Galatia [modern day Turkey]. (Acts 16:6) Timothy would have been there in the decision to take the gospel into Asia. However, God would prevent Paul and his companions from entering. Instead, they would leave Troas, an important seaport between Greece and Asia Minor, and enter Macedonia.

“From Troas we [Luke has joined the trip] put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.” (Acts 16:11-12 NIV)

“After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left. When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. … Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. But the Jews were jealous … As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 16:40-17:1, 17:4, 17:10-11)

What about Timothy? Well, Timothy is in the background, watching and learning. How do I know? The angry Jews started stirring the crowds up. Therefore,

“… The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.” (Acts 17:14-15)

Silas and Timothy would not catch up with Paul until Corinth.

“After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. … When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.” (Acts 18:1, 5)

Paul would once again move on without Silas and Timothy. However, Paul traveled with two other companions: Priscilla and Aquila, who were from Corinth. Priscilla and Aquila would “explain the way of God” to Apollos, and Apollos would be encouraged to go to Corinth, where Silas and Timothy were staying. (Acts 18:24-28)

Luke would write about Timothy once again when Paul returned back to Macedonia on his third journey.

Timothy was born and raised in southern modern-day Turkey. However, he would be a foreign missionary in modern-day Greece.