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The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
Acts 16:2 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him.
  • KJV Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
  • NKJV He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.
  • NASB and he was well spoken of by the brothers and sisters who were in Lystra and Iconium.
  • NLT Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium,

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy. His proven character commended him for ministry.

Overview

A good reputation among the churches confirmed Timothy's fitness to join Paul's team. The New Testament repeatedly stresses such tested character as a qualification for Christian service (1 Timothy 3:7). This commendation marks the beginning of Timothy's significant role in the spread of the gospel.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 10

  • 1 Tim 5:10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
  • 2 Tim 3:15From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
  • Heb 11:2This is why the ancients were commended.
  • Acts 6:3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them
  • Acts 16:40After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.
  • Acts 14:21They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
  • 1 Tim 3:7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
  • Acts 13:51So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
  • 2 Tim 3:11my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
  • 1 Tim 5:25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 16:2YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.

How Acts 16:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.