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The Apostle Paul

Early YearsMissionary YearsLater Years

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city [Jerusalem], educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God” (Acts 22:2, NASB).
 
See also Acts 21:39; 26:4-5; Rom 11:1; 2 Cor 11:22; Gal 1:13-14; Phil 3:4-6.
 
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Stephen martyred in Saul’s presence (Acts 7:58)
 
c. 35––Paul’s conversion (9:1-7)
 
c. three years––In Damascus and Arabia (9:8-25; Gal 1:16-17)
 
37––In Jerusalem (1st) (Acts 9:23-29; Gal 1:18-20)
 
c. eleven years––Went to Tarsus and Syria-Cilicia area (Acts 9:30; Gal 1:21)
 
Went to Antioch
 
c. 47––Relief visit to Jerusalem (2nd) (Acts 11:30; Gal 2:1-10)

In Antioch (Acts 12:25-13:1)
c. 48––First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14)
Departure from Antioch
Cyprus
Pamphylia
Pisidian Antioch
Iconium
Lystra-Derbe
Return visit to churches
Return to Antioch of Syria
 
Antioch
Peter at Antioch (Gal 2:11-16)
Galatians (south Galatia theory)
 
c. 49––Jerusalem council, Paul’s 3rd visit (Acts 15)
 
c. 49-50––Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22)
Departure from Antioch
Syria and Cilicia
Lystra-Derbe
Iconium
Pisidian Antioch
Antioch to Troas
Philippi
Thessalonica
Berea
Athens
c. 50-51––Arrival at Corinth (18:1-17)
Silas, Timothy arrive from Berea
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
Departure from Corinth
Ephesus
Jerusalem (4th)
 Return to Antioch
 
Third Missionary Journey (Acts 18:23-21:16)
Depart from Antioch
Visit Galatian churches
c. two years––Ephesus (19:10); (visit Corinth while at Ephesus 2 Cor 2:1; 12:14; 13:1-2)
1 CORINTHIANS (occasion for letter)
Depart from Ephesus (riot)
Troas
Macedonia
2 Corinthians 
Corinth
ROMANS
Philippi
Troas
Travels––Troas to Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Trogyllium, Miletus
Ephesian elders see Paul
Travels––Miletus to Patara, Tyre, Caesarea
Caesarea to Jerusalem

c. 57 Pentecost––Jerusalem (5th); Meeting with James (Acts 21:13-23)
Arrest & Trial by Felix (Acts 21:26-24:22)
Riot, Paul’s speech
Paul before Sanhedrin
Appearance of Lord (night), Conspiracy (day); Journey to Antipatris (night), to Caesarea (day)
Trial before Felix
 
Caesarean imprisonment (Acts 24:27)
Paul before Felix & Drusilla (24:24-26)
c. 59––Trial before Festus (25:7-12)
Trial before Agrippa (26)
 
Voyage to Rome (27:1-28:29)
Depart from Caesarea; Myra; Fair Havens; Shipwreck at Malta; Arrive in Rome
 
c. 60-62 Roman Imprisonment (28:30)
Ephesians (letter to Laodicea?)
Colossians and Philemon
Philippians
 
Paul’s Travels (post-Acts)
Ephesus and Colossae (Philm 22; 1 Tim 1:3); Macedonia (Phil. 2:23-24; 1 Tim. 1:3)
1 Timothy
Asia Minor; Spain (Rom 15:24, 28); Crete (Titus 1:5); Asia Minor
Titus
Nicopolis (Titus 3:12); Macedonia and Greece (2 Tim 4:20)
 
Paul arrested, imprisoned Rome (2 Tim 1:17)
2 Timothy
c. 68––Paul's death

Based on my own reading; and Harold Hoehner, “Chronology of the Apostolic Age,” Th.D. dissertation, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1965, esp. 380-84; and L. C. A. Alexander, “Chronology of Paul,” 115-123, in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (InterVarsity, 1993).

The early sequence of events reflects my preference of the so-called south Galatia theory.

Copyright © 2001, 2003 by Gary E. Schnittjer

 
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