Paul and Barnabas had preached the gospel in several gentile areas, and many gentiles had believed (Acts 13:48, 14:27). Some Jewish Christians claimed that the gentile converts should be circumcised (Acts 15:1, 5).

The apostles gathered at Jerusalem to resolve the controversy (verses 2, 6). After much discussion, Peter concluded that the gentiles need not be circumcised (verses 7-11). James, leader of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, agreed (verses 13-21). Circumcision is not required for gentile converts.

But Timothy was half Jewish, "the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek" (Acts 16:1). The Jerusalem conference had not dealt with such a situation. Many would have said Timothy ought to be circumcised. When Paul circumcised Timothy, he eliminated a situation that could have caused criticism.

Another reason it was wise to circumcise Timothy was that Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him. "Paul wanted to have him go on with him" (verse 3). Paul usually went to Jewish synagogues (Acts 17:1-2) and he wanted Timothy to be able to come with him.

Many Jews of the area knew that Timothy’s father was Greek (Acts 16:3), and apparently they knew that Timothy had not been circumcised. They would consider him and his companions, even Paul, unclean (Acts 10:28). So Paul circumcised Timothy "because of the Jews who were in that region" and let this be known so Paul and Timothy would be given full access to the synagogues.

Timothy did not need to be circumcised for salvation, but because of the circumstances, circumcision helped him become a more effective assistant.