Why Did Paul Circumcise Timothy?

Q

I have a question about when Paul circumcises Timothy in Acts 16:3 because of the Jews. Just before that there was a big deal made about not requiring the Gentile believers to follow the law and they even held a committee on it. Several leaders in the faith sent the decision out to Antioch and it was decided that the Gentiles were not required to be circumcised. Paul was a part of this group. Right after that Paul circumcises Timothy whose father was greek. Why on earth would he do such an about face?

A

In 1 Cor. 9:19-22 Paul said that when he was among Jews he acted like a Jew and when among gentiles he was like them. He said he was all things to all men so as to save some. Since Timothy was a young man whose mother was Jewish, and since they were going among the Jews, he circumcised him to help him be accepted by the Jews.

In Galatians 2:3 we see how he refused to circumcise Titus, because he wanted to show those who claimed that circumcision was necessary to be saved that they were wrong.