# Paul’s Journeys and Letters

Paul’s Journeys and Letters

Follow the routes, explore the places, and see how the letters fit into a chronology that includes disputed dates and settings.

## c. AD 33/34 · The Road to Damascus · Damascus

Encounters the risen Jesus on the road; blinded; called as apostle.

Places The Road to Damascus Damascus Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 9:1-9; 22:6-11; 26:12-18; Gal 1:15-16

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## c. AD 46-48 · Antioch · Seleucia Pieria · Salamis · Paphos

Set apart by the Spirit; to Cyprus; Elymas blinded, Sergius Paulus believes; Saul now Paul.

Places Antioch Seleucia Pieria Salamis Paphos Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 13:1-12

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## c. AD 46-48 · Lystra

Heals a lame man; hailed as Zeus and Hermes; Paul stoned and left for dead, then rises.

Places Lystra Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 14:8-20; 2 Cor 11:25

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## c. AD 46-48 · Derbe · Lystra · Iconium · Pisidian Antioch

Many disciples at Derbe; return strengthening churches and appointing elders.

Places Derbe Lystra Iconium Pisidian Antioch Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 14:20-23

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## c. AD 48/49 · Antioch

Likely writes Galatians (early-date / South Galatian view).

Places Antioch Related letters Galatians

Confidence: medium Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Galatians 1-6

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## c. AD 49 · Antioch

Returns with the council letter; the church rejoices.

Places Antioch Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 15:30-35

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## c. AD 50 · Samothrace · Neapolis · Philippi

Sails Troas→Samothrace→Neapolis, then inland to Philippi: Lydia believes; the slave girl freed; beaten and jailed; the jailer saved; the church founded.

Places Samothrace Neapolis Philippi Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 16:11-40; Phil 1:5

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## c. AD 50-52 · Corinth

Meets Aquila and Priscilla; reasons in the synagogue; stays eighteen months.

Places Corinth Related letters 1 Thessalonians; 2 Thessalonians

Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 18:1-11; 1 Thess 3:1-6

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## c. AD 52/53 · Antioch · Galatian region · Phrygia

Third journey begins; strengthens disciples through Galatia and Phrygia.

Places Antioch Galatian region Phrygia Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 18:23

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## c. AD 52/53-55/56 · Ephesus

Two years in the hall of Tyrannus; the word spreads through Asia; magic books burned.

Places Ephesus Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 19:1-20; 20:31

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## c. AD 55/56 · Macedonia · Illyricum

Encourages Macedonia; organizes the collection; ministry as far as Illyricum.

Places Macedonia Illyricum Related letters 2 Corinthians

Confidence: medium-high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 20:1-2; Rom 15:19; 2 Cor 8-9

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## c. AD 56/57 · Corinth · Cenchreae

Three months in Greece; writes Romans; a plot changes his route home.

Places Corinth Cenchreae Related letters Romans

Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 20:2-3; Rom 15:22-29; 16:1-2

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## c. AD 57 · Jerusalem

Arrives with the collection; purification rites; accused of defiling the temple; seized.

Places Jerusalem Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 21:15-36; Rom 15:25-28

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## c. AD 59/60 · Caesarea Maritima · Sidon · Myra · Cnidus · Fair Havens

Sent to Rome under Julius; warns against sailing on from Fair Havens.

Places Caesarea Maritima Sidon Myra Cnidus Fair Havens Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 27:1-12

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## c. AD 60 · Malta · Syracuse · Rhegium · Puteoli · Forum Appii · Three Taverns · Rome

From Malta to Italy and up the Appian Way to Rome; the brothers meet him.

Places Malta Syracuse Rhegium Puteoli Forum Appii Three Taverns Rome Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 28:11-15

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## c. AD 60-62 · Rome

Acts ends with Paul in Rome under house arrest. The prison-letter placements traditionally associated with this period are reconstructions, not claims made by Acts.

Places Rome Confidence: high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Acts 28:16-31

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## c. AD 60-62 · Philemon; Colossians

Philemon says that Paul is sending Onesimus back to Philemon. Overlapping names with Colossians suggest a connection but do not establish a shared delivery, completed route, or prison city.

Related letters Philemon; Colossians

Confidence: medium-high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Col 4:7-18; Philemon 10-24

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## c. AD 60-62 · Ephesians

Ephesians presents union with Christ and Jew–Gentile unity. Direct Pauline authorship, destination, and prison setting are debated.

Related letters Ephesians

Confidence: medium-high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Eph 1-6; 3:1; 6:20-21

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## c. AD 60-62 · Philippians

Philippians presents imprisonment as advancing the gospel and includes the Christ hymn. The prison city is debated.

Related letters Philippians

Confidence: medium Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: Phil 1:12-26; 2:5-30; 4:10-20

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## c. AD 62-64 · 1 Timothy; Titus

On a traditional direct-Pauline reading of 1 Timothy and Titus, their letter settings imply post-Acts ministry: Timothy in Ephesus, Titus in Crete, and a winter plan at Nicopolis. Acts narrates neither a release nor the itinerary, and Nicopolis is not a composition city.

Related letters 1 Timothy; Titus

Confidence: medium Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: 1 Tim 1:3; Titus 1:5; 3:12

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## c. AD 64-67 · 2 Timothy

Second Timothy presents an imprisoned speaker in Rome, chained like a criminal. Direct Pauline authorship and a final post-Acts imprisonment are debated.

Related letters 2 Timothy

Confidence: medium-high Dates and placements are historical reconstructions. Confidence describes a placement in the sequence, not whether an event happened.

Biblical references: 2 Tim 1:8,15-17; 2:9; 4:6-18

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## Sources

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