Note 1 at Ac 16:1: This is the first mention of Timotheus in Scripture. He is also called Timothy nine times. From this verse, we can see that Timothy was from the region of Lystra and Derbe, and his mother was a Jew, while his father was a Greek or Gentile (see note 45 at Mt 6:32). Paul circumcised Timothy "because of the Jews" (see note 3 Ac 16:3).

Because of Paul's mention of Timothy as "my beloved son" (1Co 4:17) and "my own son in the faith" (1Ti 1:2), it has been supposed that Paul himself had led Timothy to faith in the Lord on his first missionary trip. However, Paul mentioned in 2Ti 1:5 that Timothy's grandmother Lois and his mother, Eunice, were believers before Timothy; it is possible that they were converted on Paul's first missionary trip, and then they shared their faith with Timothy. Either way, it was because of Paul's witness that Timothy was born again.

Paul chose Timothy to travel with him during this second missionary trip. Only passing references are made of Timothy during this second journey, but it is clear that he accompanied Paul to Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth, and Ephesus (Ac 17:14-15 and Ac 18:5). Timothy was also with Paul on his third missionary journey, and from Ephesus, Paul sent him into Macedonia (Ac 19:22). Timothy apparently rejoined Paul and his company back in Ephesus because Paul besought Timothy to abide in Ephesus while he went into Macedonia (1Ti 1:3). Timothy later accompanied Paul into Greece because he was with Paul when he left Greece and headed back to Asia through Macedonia (Ac 20:4).

There is no further mention in the book of Acts as to whether or not Timothy was with Paul during his imprisonment. However, three of the letters that Paul wrote from prison are addressed from Paul and Timothy (Php 1:1, Col 1:1, and Phm 1), and Paul wrote from prison that he was going to send Timothy to Philippi (Php 2:19), indicating that Timothy was indeed with him.

Paul spoke more highly of Timothy than of anyone else who ministered with him (Php 2:20-22). Paul, with the presbytery, laid hands on Timothy and ordained him into the ministry (1Ti 1:18, 4:14; and 2Ti 1:6). Timothy was still a young man when Paul put him in charge of the very large church at Ephesus (1Ti 4:12). From Heb 13:23, we see that Timothy was imprisoned at some time and then released. Even from childhood, Timothy had been taught the Word of God (2Ti 3:15).