The Greek text says that he (Paul) circumcised him (Timothy). This is taken by some to mean that Paul himself actually circumcised Timothy, but most scholars understand it to mean that Paul had him circumcised (that is, by someone else). The reason for Paul’s action is given in this verse: since the Jews knew that Timothy’s father was a Gentile, and Timothy had therefore not been circumcised, it would presumably have been difficult for Paul to use him to take the Christian message to the Jewish people. It may be necessary in some instances to add a marginal note at this point to indicate that, since Timothy’s father was a Gentile, Timothy had not been circumcised in his infancy.

Some understand the clause Timothy’s father was Greek to indicate that Timothy’s father was dead, and so translate “Timothy’s father had been a Greek” (see Moffatt and Barclay).

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .