The document below is a file that overviews Paul’s life. I use it with students to walk quickly through his life – especially when I am on tour in Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Italy. The document is my own creation, and I have found single charts to be extremely helpful, especially on tour!
Six Stages in the Life of Paul the Apostle
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Stages in the Life of Paul |
Major Events in Paul’s Travels |
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Saul the Persecutor |
Early Life to First Journey (10-45 CE) | Stephen stoned (Acts 7:54-60) |
Paul the PreacherActs 13:1-14:28 |
First Missionary Journey (45-47 CE)Syrian Antioch
Seleucia Salamis, Cyprus Paphos, Cyprus Perga Pisidian Antioch Iconium Lystra Derbe Back through Lystra, Derbe, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch (2nd visit) Attalia In Antioch (48-49 CE) |
Travels in Central Turkey:Saul & Josef (Barnabas) chosen: Acts 13:1-3
Set sail for Cyprus Preached in synagogues (Acts: 13:5) Elymas-sorcerer blinded; Sergius Paulus belives John departs to Jerusalem Jews upset: Gentile response: Paul sick (Gal 4:13 ff) Flee to Iconium, preach a while – flee from Iconium! Heals lame; stoned: left for dead; got up and left! Some response (Acts 14:20 ff) Ordained elders; fasted, prayed for churches. Passed through Pisidian region. Set sail: (for sufferings cp. 2 Tim. 3:10, 11) Report to church., remained “long time” (14:25 ff) |
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Paul the Representative |
The Jerusalem Council (50 CE)Acts 15:1-35 (visit #3) | Paul to carry letter from Council (Acts 15:23-29) to Antioch, then Central Turkey. |
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Paul the AmbassadorActs 15:36-18:23 |
Second Missionary Journey (51-54 CE)Syrian Antioch
Through Syria and Cilicia (Tarsus?) Derbe Lystra Iconium Pisidian Antioch Troas Neapolis Philippi (cp. 1 Thess. 2:2, Phil. 1:30) Amphipolis Apollonia Thessalonica (cp. Paul at work 1 Th. 2:9) Berea Athens Corinth (abt. 1 1/2 yrs: Acts 18:1-18) Cenchrea Ephesus Caesarea Maritima Jerusalem (visit #4) In Antioch (54 CE) |
From SE to NW Turkey, Machedonia, AchaiaDispute with Peter (Gal 2:11 ff) Barnabas seperate
Paul chooses Silas Letter presented Timothy circumcised and joins Paul and Silas Letter presented (Acts 16:4) Letter presented (Acts 16:4) Macedonian vision (Acts 16:6-11) Via Samothrace sailed into Neapolis port. Lydia, demoniac girl, jail, earthquake, jailer saved. Passed trough – no synagogue. Passed trough – no synagogue. Jason (Paul’s host) arrested; Paul sent away (PM) Good reception: Thess. Jews followed with trouble. Paul at Areopagus preaching (Acts 17:16-34) Paul before Gallio, consul of Achaia Paul shaves head & completes vow. (Acts 18:18) In synagogue, good reception, leaves for Jerusalem. Lands and journeys back to Jerusalem for feast. Salutes church, leaves for Antioch (18:22)
Visited some time, left for next journey. |
Paul the DisciplerActs 18:23-21:16 |
Third Missionary Journey (54-58 CE)Through Cilicia (Tarsus?) Galatia, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, P. Antioch
Ephesus (3 yrs., Acts 19) Troas Neapolis, Philippi, Amphipolis Apollonia, Thessalonica, Berea & west Corinth, Cenchrea (3 months, Acts 20:1) Thessalonica Philippi Troas (cp. Acts 20:7-11) Assos Mytilene Miletus Coos Rhodes Patara Tyre Ptolemais (Acco) At Jerusalem (visit #5 / final: 58 CE) |
Central and Western Turkey, Macedonia, AchaiaPaul travelling through to all the churches; Apollos at Ephesus during Paul’s brief journey
Demetrius the silversmith starts a riot (19:22-41) Departs for Macedonia (depart port not named) Preaching and collection for Jerusalem church (2 Cor. 8 ) Progresses even into Illyricum (Rom 15:19f). Ministered to church, tried to get back to Antioch. By land through Macedonia to port near Philippi. Sailed five days to Troas (Pesach season) Stayed 7 days, spoke to believers, Eutychus falls. Paul rejoins boat (he walked from Troas) Stops off, will pass by Ephesus to Miletus. Address to Ephesian elders, departs for Jerusalem. Harbored amidst journey home. Harbored amidst journey home. Found ship bound for Phoenician coast. Bypassed Cyprus and stayed south to Phoenicia. Saluted believers, 1 day. Agabus’ prophecy.
Paul seized in Temple (Acts 21) |
Paul the Prisoner |
Imprisoned: Bound for Rome (58-61 CE)Acts 21:16-31 | Paul before Felix, Festus & Agrippa (Acts 24-26)Paul then journeys as a prisoner to Rome. |
| First Roman Captivity (61-63 CE)Acts 28:16-31 | ||
| Between Captivities (64-66 CE) | Visits include: Macedonia, Asia Minor, Achaia. | |
| Second Roman Captivity (67-68 CE)Ends in Paul’s death |