Paul’s Missionary Journeys
It usual to speak of Paul’s three missionary journeys
as recorded in Acts 13ff. Some think there was a fourth missionary journey
which took place after the events recorded in Acts.
Here’ a quick summary adapted from here: https://bethanygu.edu/news/missionary-journey/
(which also includes maps).
(1) Acts 13 and 14. Paul and
Barnabas set sail with John as their helper from about 46 to 48 A.D. and their
first stop was Cyprus. They visited Pathos and then Perga in Pamphylia
where John left them to go back to Jerusalem. They went from there to Pisidian
Antioch. Then on to Lystra and Derbe, where the Galatian church was
planted. After visiting Lystra, Iconium, and Attalia, then they returned
to the church in Antioch
(2) Paul’s second missionary
journey lasted from 49 to 52 A.D. and is recorded in Acts chapters 16-18. Paul
and Silas first came to Derbe and Lystra where they met Timothy, who they
decided to bring with them on their journey. They travelled through the region
of Phrygia and Galatia and eventually on to Troas where Paul had a vision in
the night calling him and his companions to travel to Damascus and preach the
Gospel there. They planted the churches in Philippi and
Thessalonica. From Thessalonica they went to Brea, Athens, Corinth, and
Ephesus, then to Jerusalem and finally back to Antioch for a short time.
Paul probably wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians during this mission.
(3) Paul travelled again to
the region of Galatia and Phrygia, with the intent of strengthening the
churches. This third missionary journey lasted from 53 to 57 A.D. and is found
in Acts chapters 18:23-21:14. It lasted longer than the previous two,
and he spent his time visiting the churches he had planted on his first two
journeys. Acts tells us that he spent a significant portion of his time in
Ephesus, about 2-3 years. He left for Macedonia, accompanied by
Sopaterm Aristarchus, Secundus, Galius, Timothy, Tychicus, and Trophimus. They
visited the churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea before he made his
way to Corinth. Paul then retraced his steps back through Philippi,
Thessalonica, and Berea, stopping in Troas. Led by the Holy Spirit to go to
Jerusalem, and eager to be there for Pentecost, Paul bypassed Ephesus calling
the Ephesian elders to come and meet him in Miletus. In about 55 A.D.
Paul made his way to Jerusalem. While in Ephesus on this third journey,
Paul probably wrote 1st and 2nd Corinthians in about 53-55 A.D
(4?) Some think that Paul’s letters to Timothy point to his being
imprisoned in Rome twice and that after the first release he embarked on a
fourth journey, possibly to Spain, though there isn’t solid evidence for this.
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