The Apostle Paul
According to the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul made three separate missionary journeys and a journey to Rome. The biblical narrative ends there, but tradition has it that he was martyred in Rome around 67 AD. On the other hand, it is also possible that he was released in Rome following his appeal, and continued his missionary work in various places.
Fortunately for pilgrims and travelers interested in biblical sites, Paul traveled in some of the most beautiful places around the Mediterranean!
Paul's First Missionary Journey (47-49 AD)
Acts 13-14, with Barnabas
- Syrian Antioch (Antakya) and Seleucia (starting point)
- Cyprus – home of Barnabas
- Salamis – John Mark joins
- Paphos, Cyprus – Conversion of Sergius Paulus
- Perga – John Mark leaves
- Pisidian Antioch– First Gentile Christian congregation
- Iconium (Konya)– Many believe
- Lystra – Paul and Barnabas treated as gods
- Derbe – success
- Lystra – Paul appoints elders
- Iconium– Paul appoints elders
- Pisidian Antioch – Paul appoints elders
- Perga – Paul appoints elders
- Attalia
- Return to Syrian Antioch
Paul's Second Missionary Journey (50-53 AD)
Acts 15:36-18:22, with Silas
- Syrian Antioch/Antakya (starting point)
- Syria and Cilicia
- Derbe
- Lystra – Timony joins the party
- Phrygia and Galatia – Holy Spirit prevents them going to Bithynia
- Troas – Paul's vision of the man of Macedon
- Philippi – Conversion of Lydia, thrown in jail, earthquake, conversion of jailer – gospel goes to Europe
- Thessalonica
- Berea (Veria) – Jews examine scriptures – memorial of Paul's preaching
- Athens – Paul preaches the Unknown God on the Areopagus
- Corinth – Paul stays for 18 months, with Aquila and Priscilla, writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians
- Ephesus– farewell
- Jerusalem
- Return to Syria
Paul's Third Missionary Journey
Acts 18:23-28:31, with Timothy
- Phrygia and Galatia
- Ephesus– Paul stays for two years, writes 1 Corinthians and possibly Galatians
- Macedonia – Paul writes 2 Corinthians
- Corinth– Paul stays 3 months, writes Romans
- Troas – stays for 7 days; Eutychus and the nighttime meeting
- Assos (Behramkale) – Acts 20:13,14 - Aristotle taught here
- Mitylene
- Samos
- Miletus – farewell speech to Ephesians (?)
- Jerusalem– imprisoned
- Caesarea – Paul in prison for two years; Felix, Festus, Agrippa
- Malta – Shipwreck en route to Rome
Paul in Rome
Imprisoned in Rome in 53-62 AD and again in 64 AD. He wrote Ephesians, Colossian, Philemon, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus in Rome. He was beheaded in Rome in 67 AD, according to the 4th-century historian Eusebius.
