
The first journey begins when Paul,
Barnabus, and Mark set out from Antioch (Acts 13:4). This
journey started after 44 AD and ended a "long time" (Acts
14:28) before 50 AD.
They left Antioch for Seleucia and sailed to
Cyprus, large island 100 miles off Syrian coast. There they went
to Salamis and Paphos where Paul met Bar-Jesus the sorcerer.
(Acts 13:4-6).
Then they sail to Perga in Pamphylia, which
is now southern Turkey. From here, Mark returns to Jerusalem.
At Antioch in Pisidia (not to be confused
with the one in Syria), Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles
(Acts 13:46).
Then it was on to Iconium, where they abode a
"long time" (Acts 14:3), Lystra, where Paul stoned, but
lives (Acts 14:19), and Derbe. Then they retraced their steps
back through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (in Pisidia) (Acts
14:21).
Paul and Barnabas went throughout Pisidia,
Pamphylia, then to Perga, Attalia, and sailed back to Antioch in
Syria (Acts 14:24-26)
The first journey ends in Antioch,
Syria, where Paul and Barnabus stay there a long time (Acts
14:28).
The dates for the events from 50-60 AD are
found by counting backwards from the succession of Felix's reign
as Procurator in Judea by Porcius Festus in 60 AD. Should one
want to check these dates for accuracy, one should start at 60
AD and work backwards.
In about 50 AD, Paul and Barnabus go to the
council in Jerusalem 14 years after Paul's conversion
(Galatians 2:1-9 and Acts 15:2).
Judas and Silas return to Antioch (Syria)
with Barnabus and Paul where they continued some days (Acts
15:35-36), possibly in the winter of 50-51 AD.
The second journey begins, possibly in
the spring of 51 AD. Paul takes Silas through Syria and Cilicia
(now southeastern Turkey).
They came to Derbe and Lystra, where they
find Timothy, who goes with Paul and Silas throughout Phrygia
and Galatia. But they are forbidden by the Spirit to go into
Asia or Bithynia. They passed through Mysia to Troas, the island
of Samothracia, and then to Neapolis in Macedonia (now northern
Greece).
At Philippi, God opens the heart of Lydia and
the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:14-34).
Passing through Amphipolis and Appolonia,
they came to Thessalonica, where Paul taught for 3 weeks.
After teaching some in Berea, Paul departed
ahead of Silas and Timothy, southward into Achaia (now southern
Greece), to Athens, possibly for the winter of 51-52 AD (Acts
17:14-15).
Paul then makes his first visit to Corinth
where he stays a year and a half (Acts 18:5). This
may have been from the spring of 52 AD to the fall of 53 AD.
Here, Paul met Aquila and Priscilla, who had just come from
Rome, from which Claudius Caesar had banished all Jews. Silas
and Timothy rejoin Paul. First Thessalonians was written
from here in about 52 AD (1 Thessalonians 3:1-2, 6). We know
that it was written from Corinth, and not from Athens, because
Silas and Timothy had already rejoined Paul (1 Thessalonians 1:1
and Acts 18:5). Second Thessalonians was also written
from Corinth. We know that it was soon after the first letter,
because like the first letter, Silas was with Paul when second
Thessalonians was written. After Paul leaves Corinth, there is
no further mention of Silas traveling with Paul.
Paul left by boat with Aquila and Priscilla
to Cenchrea and then across the Aegean Sea to Ephesus. Aquila
and Priscilla stay there where they would later meet Apollos
(Acts 18:19 and 26).
Paul sails on to Caesarea and then goes up to
Antioch in Syria, where the second journey ends. Paul
stayed a while (Acts 18:23). This may have been the winter of
53-54 AD.
The third journey begins with Galatia
(central region of Turkey) possibly in the spring of 54 AD and
then Phrygia (Acts 18:23).
Then
Paul arrives at Ephesus where he stayed for 3 years (Acts
20:31) probably from the fall of 54 AD to the fall of 57 AD.
Paul meets disciples of John the Baptist. He preached in the
synagogue for 3 months (Acts 19:8). He disputed daily in
the school of Tyrannus for 2 years (Acts 19:9-10), so
that all that dwelt in Asia heard the word. Paul sent Timothy
and Erastus ahead into Macedonia, but Paul stayed in Asia for
a season (Acts 19:22). Paul wrote 1 Corinthians near
the end of this stay in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:8,19),
probably in 57 AD. It was not written with Timothy, who Paul had
sent ahead into Macedonia (Acts 19:22). Paul foresaw his route
of travel for the next four or so years in Acts 19:21-22. This
agrees with his plans in 1 Corinthians 16:1, 3, 5, 8-10. Note
how the "great door" opened to Paul and "many
adversaries" in verse 9 compares with the events in the
Ephesian amphitheater in Acts 19:23-41. In 1 Corinthians 3:6
Paul says "Apollos watered". This refers to Apollos
teaching in Corinth when Paul was at Ephesus, (Acts 19:1).
Paul had rejoined Timothy when Second
Corinthians was written (2 Corinthians 1:1). Paul had come to
Troas and continued to Macedonia (2 Corinthians 2:12-13 and
7:5), which seems to correspond to Acts 20:1. Paul also talks of
a third visit to Corinth in 2 Corinthians 13:1 and 12:14.
So Second Corinthians was most likely written in the fall
of 57 AD from somewhere in Macedonia (northern Greece), possibly
Philippi.
In 2 Corinthians 12:1-4, Paul says 14
years ago I ascended into heaven. From 57, going back 14
years to 43 AD, this puts us back before Paul's first journey,
probably when he was at Antioch in Syria.
After going through Macedonia (northern
Greece), Paul came to Achaia (southern Greece) where he stayed
3 months (Acts 20:2-3), making third visit to Corinth.
This is where he spent the winter of 57-58 AD (1 Corinthians
16:5-8). Romans was written at this time (Rom 15:23-26
and 1 Corinthians 16:1-3).
Going back to Macedonia (Acts 20:1), they
were at Philippi (northeastern Greece) in spring of 58 AD in the
"days of unleavened bread" (Acts 20:6).
Then they sailed to Troas, where a young man
fell out of a window, and Paul raises him from the dead (Acts
20:7-12).
Then Paul went to Assos, Mitylene, Chios,
Samos, Trogylium, and Miletus (now in southwestern Turkey). From
here, Paul addresses Ephesian elders whom he had called to meet
him (Acts 20:17-38) in the spring of 58 AD (Acts 20:16).
Sailing to Coos, Rhodes, Patara, and passing
on the south side of Cyprus, they came to Tyre (which is now in
Lebanon) where they stayed one week. Then they went south to
Ptolemais and to Caesarea where they stayed many days (Acts
21:10). Then Paul goes to Jerusalem, where the third journey
ends.
Here let us pause to look at the question:
When was Galatians written? Galatians was written when
Paul was not in prison and when neither Silas or Timothy were
with him (Galatians 1:1). It was written after the council in
Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-32 and Galatians 2:1-10) and after Paul's
second visit to the region on his second journey in about 51 AD
(Acts 16:1-6). Since they were "so soon removed" from
grace (Galatians 1:6), it must have been before the prison years
of 58-63 AD. So it could have been written when Paul was alone
in Athens in the winter of 51-52 AD, which would make it Paul's
first letter. But this is unlikely, since Paul was only in
Athens a short time (Acts 17:15). Or it could have been written
from Antioch between Paul's second and third journeys in the
winter of 53-54 AD (Acts 18:22-23). But this is also unlikely
because Paul would have probably mentioned that he would be
coming to them soon on his third journey. It could have been
written from Corinth in the winter of 57-58 where Paul wrote
Romans. But most likely, it was written from Ephesus during
Paul's 3 years there from 54-57. Paul had recently passed
through the region of Galatia "... strengthening all the
disciples ..." (Acts 18:23) and spent far more time in
Ephesus where he could have gotten the unfavorable report about
the churches in Galatia (Galatians 1:6) which was relatively
nearby.
The third journey ends at Jerusalem in
58 AD. Paul is beaten by Jews, preaches to them (Acts
22:1-21), and is brought before Sanhedrin. Jesus Christ tells
Paul that he will go to bear him witness in Rome. Many Jews vow
to kill Paul (Acts 23:12).
In 58 AD, Paul is taken to Governor
Felix (reigned 53-60) at Caesarea, "many years" (Acts
24:10) after 53 AD and 2 years before end Felix's reign. Paul
then spends 2 years in prison in Caesarea in Judea.
In 60 AD, Governor Portius Festus
reign begins. Paul appeals to Caesar (Acts 25:11).
Some days pass, then Herod Agrippa II hears
Paul.
The voyage to Rome begins: Paul, still
a prisoner, sails to Sidon with Luke and Aristarchus (Acts
27:1-2) on the way to Italy.
They sailed to Myra (now southern Turkey) and
on to Lasea, on large island of Crete, 50 miles southeast of
Greece, where much time was spent (Acts 27:7-13).
In the fall of 60 AD, they reached
Melita, a small island south of Sicily. Paul was bitten by a
poisonous snake but lived. Paul healed the father of Publius and
others. Paul (still captive) spends the winter of 60-61 AD (Acts
28:11) on island with his captors .
In the spring, they sailed on to Syracuse (on
island of Sicily), then to Rhegium (on the southern tip of
Italy), then to Puteoli (on the western coast of Italy).
The
voyage to Rome ends: Paul spends 2 years in his own
hired house (Acts 28:30) as a prisoner in Rome from 61-63 AD.
During this time he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians,
and Philemon. In about 62 AD, Paul wrote Ephesians before
Timothy came to him (Ephesians 1:1) while in prison in Rome
(Ephesians 3:1, 4:1, and 6:20). Also in about 62 AD, Paul wrote
Philippians from prison (Philippians 1:7) in Rome (4:23)
with Timothy (1:1). Paul wrote Colossians from prison
(Colossians 4:18) in Rome in about 62 AD with Timothy (1:1) and
fellow prisoner, Aristarchus (4:10). Paul, with Timothy, wrote
Philemon from prison in 63 AD (Philemon 1:1).
Paul after the imprisonment in Rome:
We know that Paul had further journeys after he was released
from the prison in Rome in 63 AD. After his release, he wrote
the epistles of Hebrews, Titus, First Timothy, and Second
Timothy, not necessarily in that order, although Second Timothy
was apparently his last. This took place after the events
recorded in Acts, so all of our information comes from various
statements that Paul makes in his letters. In them are clues
that Paul may have traveled to some or all of the following
places: Colosse, Spain, Corinth, Miletus, Troas, Crete,
Nicopolis, Philippi, Italy, Judea, Ephesus, and Macedonia.
This allows for the possibilities that Paul traveled to more
about as many diverse places as in all of his previous journeys
combined. There are probably several possible ways that one
could reconstruct the sequence of these travels which would not
disagree with scripture. Since I do not know which one would be
correct, I will just list what I know about the journeys. Thus,
the references below are not intended to be chronological,
although they all occurred after Paul's release from prison in
63 AD.
In Philemon 22, Paul foresaw his release and
tells those in Colosse to prepare him lodging. We know
that Philemon was written to the Colossians because of Archippus
(Colossians 4:17 and Philemon 2), Onesimus (Colossians 4:9 and
Philemon 9-10), and others (Colossians 4:10-14 and Philemon
23-25). Also, while in prison in Rome Paul wrote to those in
Philippi that he may be coming to visit them (Philippians
1:26).
In Romans 1:10, 15:24 and 28, and 16:1, 3,
and 5 Paul speaks of aspirations of eventually going to Spain.
Did he ever do this in his final years? The Bible does not say
whether he did or not. We do however have the account of the
century author, Clement of Rome, regarding Paul. "After
preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious
reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the
whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west,
and suffered martyrdom under the prefects" (The First Epistle
of Clement to the Corinthians, Chapter 5). The "extreme
limit of the west" very well could be Spain.
At some time after being released from the
prison in Rome, Paul went to Corinth and Miletus
(2 Timothy 4:20). He also went to Troas (2 Timothy 4:13),
Crete (Titus 1:5), and Nicopolis for the winter
(Titus 3:12).
Paul leaving Titus in Crete must have been
during a period of liberty after Paul's imprisonment in Rome
ended in 63 AD. Paul did not go there during the first 3
journeys. There is no mention of Titus or of any preaching on
Crete in Acts 27:7-13, on the voyage to Rome. Paul says he will
send Artemas or Tychicus to Titus. He tells Titus to come to
Nicopolis where Paul has determined to winter (Titus 3:12). The
letter to Titus was probably written around 64-65 AD.
There are three cities called Nicopolis: (1) in Achaia (southern
Greece), most likely the one to which Paul was referring, (2) 15
miles west of Jerusalem, and (3) in the area that is now
Romania.
The book of Hebrews was apparently
written from Italy (Hebrews 13:24). Timothy had been
released from prison (Hebrews 13:23) and was coming to Paul.
Paul was apparently at liberty as well, since they planned to
then go to visit the Hebrews. This could have been in Judea,
as Paul says, "... ye had compassion of me in my bonds
..." (Hebrews 10:34). This must have been in reference to Paul's
imprisonment in Caesarea from 58-60 AD. Hebrews was probably
written around 64-65 AD.
Paul had told Timothy to stay and teach in
Ephesus when Paul went to Macedonia (1 Timothy 1:3).
During the third journey, Paul had done the opposite, staying in
Ephesus himself, and sending Timothy with Erastus to Macedonia
(Acts 19:22). So First Timothy was written around 64-65
AD during a period of liberty after Paul's Roman imprisonment of
61-63 AD. Paul said he was hoping to come to Timothy in Ephesus
shortly, but may have to tarry long (1 Timothy 3:14-15). Timothy
was in Ephesus where he received both First Timothy and Second
Timothy (1 Timothy 1:3, 2 Timothy 1:16-18, 4:14, 4:19, Acts
19:33, and 1 Timothy 1:20).
Second Timothy was apparently written
from prison (2 Timothy 1:8) with Paul ready to die (2 Timothy
4:6-8), possibly about 66 AD. Yet he asks Timothy to come to him
before winter (2 Timothy 4:9 and 21). Paul was probably martyred
sometime around 67 AD.