16 ¹ He went on to Derbe and to Lystra, and there he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish Christian mother and a Gentile father. 16 ² He was well spoken of by the Christians at Lystra and Iconium, 16 ³ and Paul wanted to have him in his company when he left the place. So he took him and circumcised him, out of consideration for the Jews who lived in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Gentile. 16 ⁴ As they made their way from town to town they handed on the decisions taken by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem and enjoined their observance. 16 ⁵ And so, day by day, the congregations grew stronger in faith and increased in numbers.