NOTES for Act 15:36-16:10

The dispute over whether to take John Mark with them could have led to a rupture. But we see that even the division between the brothers proved fruitful: by going to different places, they were able to preach to more people. Even disputes and disagreements caused by human disorder are turned to good by the Lord, who makes up for what we strive to spoil.

It might seem that Paul, who denied that Old Testament rituals were obligatory for non-Jews and who, in general, hardly appears to have supported formal legalism, could have refrained from circumcising Timothy. True, Timothy belonged to the Jewish people through his mother, so circumcision was necessary if Paul and Timothy were to deal with Jews. But Paul departs from his own principles, as it may seem, not merely to yield to public opinion. Paul's actions are twofold: one cannot exercise free choice by destroying the law, and conversely, clear rules can become a support for free action.