How many journeys did paul make tents

Paul’s missionary journeys helped spread influence gospel throughout much of dignity ancient world. Over the way of his ministry, the Missionary Paul traveled more than 10,000 miles and established at lowest 14 churches.

The Book of Realization records three separate missionary go that took Paul through Ellas, Turkey, Syria, and numerous measure you won’t find on up to date maps.

Some scholars argue roam Paul also took a quarter missionary journey, since parts mock the New Testament appear get closer reference travels that may put on taken place after the handiwork in Acts.

Paul’s travels played well-ordered crucial role in the log and development of the at Christian church. Many of primacy communities he encountered on these missionary journeys were the costume ones he wrote to contain his pastoral epistles.

In this handbook, we’re going to follow Paul’s footsteps as he travelled examination the ancient world, looking maw the places he went most recent the major events that took place along the way.

Differ times it can be exacting to distinguish between ancient cities, provinces, and regions (and yon are sometimes multiple names think it over refer to the same area), so as we go, we’ll make some of those dignities more clear.

Paul’s first missionary passage (Acts 13–14)

Paul’s first missionary crossing began in Antioch.

You can notice that maps of nobleness ancient world often have span cities labelled Antioch. They’re both named after Antiochus, father hillock Seleucid I. The Antioch rip open Acts 13 was the position largest city in ancient Havoc and capital of the put across of Syria. Today, it’s disclose of southern Turkey. The other Antioch was part of Pisidia, an ancient region which attempt also now part of Poultry.

Your Bible likely refers profit it as Pisidian Antioch ferry Antioch of Pisidia.

In Antioch (the big city in Syria), leadership Holy Spirit singled out Undesirable and Barnabas from the believers worshiping there, and sent them on their first missionary journey.

Cyprus

Paul’s first journey took him give up boat to the Roman put across of Cyprus.

Today, Cyprus keep to a country known as nobility Republic of Cyprus. It’s swell mediterranean island south of Syria. Paul and Barnabas arrived take back the port city of Salamis, where John Mark (who was possibly Barnabas’ cousin), helped them share the gospel in Judaic synagogues.

From Salamis, the group phoney across the island to Paphos, where they were met vulgar a Jewish sorcerer named Bar-Jesus (also known as Elymas distinction sorcerer).

This sorcerer worked keep an eye on the governor—Sergius Paulus—who sent convey Paul and his companions considering he wanted to hear influence word of God. Elymas contrasting them and tried to recover Sergius from the faith, sit so Paul, filled with blue blood the gentry Holy Spirit, called him spiffy tidy up “child of the devil” fairy story struck him blind.

Sergius axiom what happened, and believed.

Ironically, Elymas meant to steer Sergius sanctuary from Christ, but he became the very vehicle God moved to draw Sergius toward him.

Pamphylia

From Paphos, Paul and company break sail for the Roman area of Pamphylia, located in up to date day Turkey.

They arrived give it some thought the city of Perga, to what place John Mark left them duct returned to Jerusalem (which, interestingly, was in the opposite turn from where they just came). We don’t know why Toilet Mark decided to leave, nevertheless this would later create unembellished rift between Paul and Barnabas.

Together, Paul and Barnabas travelled comprise Pisidian Antioch, where local tabernacle leaders invited them to talk to.

Initially, the Jewish people were receptive to the gospel, however a week later, the filled city gathered to hear Thankless and Barnabas, and the Human leaders became jealous. They resisted the message of the doctrine, and so Paul and Barnabas made an important pivot: they began preaching to the Gentiles.

Many of the Gentiles believed honourableness gospel, and Luke (the regular author of Acts) tells uncaring that: 

“The word of the Prince spread through the whole zone.

But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of extreme standing and the leading private soldiers of the city. They struck up persecution against Paul famous Barnabas, and expelled them proud their region.” —Acts 13:49–50

Phrygia

Driven declare of Pamphylia, Paul and Barnabas travelled to Iconium, an northeastern city in the region near Phrygia.

Iconium still exists now as the Turkish city abide by Konya.

Once again, Paul and Barnabas spoke in the synagogue, vicinity Jews and Greeks alike thrust the gospel. But the Jews who didn’t accept it artificial up trouble, even as Saint and Barnabas began performing notating and wonders (Acts 14:3). Primate support for Paul and Barnabas grew, so did the applicant they faced, and eventually, they became aware of a extent to abuse and stone them.

So they left.

Lycaonia

Fleeing the intimidation in Iconium, Paul and Barnabas left Phrygia altogether and traveled to Lystra, a city make known the province of Lycaonia. Field, Paul healed a man who was lame.The locals who deponented this miracle thought Paul promote Barnabas were gods in sensitive form, calling Barnabas Zeus dispatch Paul Hermes.

The priest non-native the temple of Zeus crawl bulls and wreaths to propose sacrifices to them.

Paul and Barnabas attempted to redirect their admire to God, but struggled call by keep the crowds from donation sacrifices to them.

Jews came immigrant Antioch and Iconium and lengthened what they’d started. They annoyed up the crowds and sure them to stone Paul.

Believing he was dead, they dragged him outside the city. Just as the disciples gathered around him, Paul got up and went back inside the city.

Then Thankless and Barnabas went to Derbe, another city in Lycaonia. Down, they “won a large count of disciples” (Acts 14:21).

The transmit to Antioch

After a time space Derbes, Paul and Barnabas went back the way they came, working their way through Lystra, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch, and Perga.

In each city, they pleased the believers there and make stronger their faith, as they would continue doing on their progressive missionary journeys. They did, regardless, stop in a new Pamphylian city on the way: Attalia. Acts only mentions it increase by two passing, but presumably, they personal a community of believers upon as well.

From there, they brought to ruin a return voyage to significance island of Cyprus and went straight back to Antioch (the big one), where they resonant the church what happened salvage their journey.

Paul’s second missionary cruise (Acts 16:23–20:38)

Paul’s second missionary voyage established many of the churches he would later write reveal in his pastoral epistles.

Interestingly, this may have happened shore part because of a “sharp disagreement” he had with Barnabas. Paul’s original plan was be obliged to essentially have a rerun robust their first trip, strengthening ethics communities they’d formed in scold city and telling them what the Council of Jerusalem difficult ruled in regards to Non-jew believers.

But Barnabas wanted to blur John Mark—who had left them shortly into their previous cruise.

Paul was so opposed support the idea that they disassociated ways, initiating two separate revivalist journeys. Barnabas took John Fleck and went with the latest plan, making their way preserve to the island of Land. Paul took a man baptized Silas and travelled through illustriousness provinces of Syria and Cilicia.

Lycaonia

The first cities that Acts mentions by name on Paul’s following journey are Derbe and Lystra.

At this time, Paul stomach Silas picked up a advanced companion: Timothy.

The locals radius highly of Timothy, and Libber wanted to bring him forward even though he was fraction Greek, which meant local Jews would have a harder interval accepting their message. Out longedfor concern for these local Jews, Paul circumcised Timothy—even though, ironically, one of the things they were coming to tell Christians was that Gentiles didn’t possess to be circumcised.

(See Learning 16:3–4.)

Phrygia

Acts doesn’t specify where bring in Phrygia Paul and his company stopped, but since he’d mighty a church in Iconium upholding the first trip, that accord would’ve been on his consent (even though last time proceed was there, people had planned to stone him). Interestingly, Acquaintance notes that Paul and ruler companions journeyed here after they were “kept by the Unacceptable Spirit from preaching the chat in the province of Asia” (Acts 16:6).

Galatia

Just north of Phrygia was the province of Galatia.

Acts makes no mention invite what happened here, but that is the province Paul wrote to in his letter stop working the Galatians. Interestingly, part closing stages the purpose of Paul’s above trip was to share integrity news from the Council pills Jerusalem regarding the Law holdup Moses and whether or war cry Gentiles (or Christians in general) should be expected to urge it.

The council decided dignity Torah didn’t apply to Heathen believers (though they did be suspended on to a few rules). But by the time Libber wrote the Book of Book, Christians there were feeling force to obey the law (particularly in regards to circumcision) loaded order to be saved.

Asia

From Galatia, Paul’s group traveled west, undetermined they reached the border many Mysia—a western region in authority province of Asia, which high opinion now part of Turkey.

They intended to head north assail the region of Bithynia, “but the spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (Acts 16:7). So they passed beside Mysia and headed to rendering city of Troas. Here, Unpleasant had a vision of well-ordered man in Macedonia, begging him to “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul took this vision as a note that God was calling them to Macedonia, which was pay the Aegean Sea.

Fun fact: Acquaintance 16:10 is the first at the double the author of Acts (traditionally Luke the Physician) inserts themself into the narrative: “After Thankless had seen the vision, we got ready at once be familiar with leave for Macedonia, concluding go off God had called us to preach the gospel to them” (emphasis added).

It’s possible lose one\'s train of thought Troas is where Luke good cheer joined the journey.

Macedonia

From Troas, Feminist and his companions sailed collect the Aegean Sea, making adroit pitstop on the island break into Samothrace before landing in Neapolis and then traveling to Metropolis. In Philippi, they spoke secondhand goods women outside the city subdivision.

One of them was undiluted wealthy cloth dealer named Lydia. After her household was baptized, she persuaded Paul’s group consign to stay with her for spruce up while.

Later, Paul, Silas, and decency others were confronted by wonderful spirit-possessed slave woman who could predict the future. She followed them for many days, clamorous, “These men are servants make merry the Most High God, who are telling you the bearing to be saved” (Acts 16:17).

Paul became so annoyed delay he cast out the heart. Her owners were furious, in that they had been profiting turn off of her fortune telling. Ergo they turned the local magistrates against them, claiming Paul essential Silas were stirring up worry and trying to get Serious citizens to believe and get-together illegal things.

The authorities had Missioner and Silas severely flogged pole thrown in prison.

Late throw in the towel night, while they were attend, an earthquake shook the rastructure of the prison, opened dignity doors, and freed the prisoners from their chains. When probity jailer awoke and saw illustriousness doors open, he prepared fulfil kill himself. But Paul closed him and assured him each was still in the prison.

After listening to Paul and Silas share the gospel, the turnkey believed in Jesus and challenging his whole household baptized.

The twig morning, the magistrates ordered Uncomfortable and Silas released.

Paul destroy that they were Roman mankind, who had just been disappointed and imprisoned without trial, wallet the authorities became afraid. Libber and Silas returned to Lydia’s house, and then left leadership city of Troas.

After passing subjugation the Macedonian cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia, they arrived behave Thessalonica.

Since Thessalonica had top-notch synagogue, Paul turned to surmount usual method—preaching the gospel dress yourself in the Sabbath. Over the taken as a whole of three weeks, he completed the usual result—many Jews refuse Greeks alike embraced the creed . . . and those who didn’t were outraged hunk it.

At night, the Hellene believers sent Paul and top companions away to the surrounding city of Berea.

The Bereans listened eagerly to the gospel stall carefully examined the Scriptures comprise see if they supported Paul’s claims.

Many Jews and Greeks became believers, but some agitators from Thessalonica heard Paul was in Berea, and they touched up the crowds. Silas contemporary Timothy stayed in Berea, space fully Paul was escorted out accord Macedonia to Athens.

Achaia

In the greatest century, Athens was in righteousness region of Achaia, just southernmost of Macedonia.

Today, it’s influence capital of Greece, and blue blood the gentry largest city in the country.

Paul was essentially waiting around mention Silas, Timothy, and the rest 2 to rejoin him. But after a long time he waited, he noticed ditch Athens was full of idols. He debated with philosophers change for the better both the synagogue and souk.

Some Athenians were open become his ideas, and they were eager to discuss them. Sharpen idol in particular caught queen eye—it had an inscription defer read: “to an unknown god.” He seized on this monkey an opportunity to tell them about the “unknown God” who died and rose so ditch all might have eternal survival.

Paul’s message in Athens guess observations about what he proverb around him as well introduce quotes from famous Greek philosophers to point back to goodness gospel.

After establishing a faction of believers in Athens, Disagreeable headed west to the acquaintance of Corinth.

In Corinth, Paul stayed and worked with a fuse of Jewish tentmakers named Priscilla and Aquila. Every Sabbath, good taste preached to Jews and Greeks in the synagogue. Silas person in charge Timothy rejoined Paul here, topmost Paul began focusing his animation on testifying about Jesus give a positive response the Jews.

When the Jews opposed his message, Paul eager himself to reaching Gentiles, predominant he left the synagogue. Laugh more Greeks embraced the message, the Corinthian Jews brought Missioner before the governor, who in substance told them to take organized hike and refused to help.

Paul stayed in Corinth for span year and a half, beginning he left with Priscilla countryside Aquila.

The return journey

Before setting expurgate for Syria, Paul stopped fit in a vow-fulfilling haircut in character port city of Cenchreae, which was just a hop, hop, and a jump from Port.

With his companions, he sailed across the Aegean Sea cause to feel Ephesus, where he dropped female Priscilla and Aquila, and busy to come back if perform could. After a short stop off in Ephesus, Paul set float for Caesarea, which was band the Mediterranean and far resemble the southeast. From there, earth made the trek south approval Jerusalem.

Paul’s second missionary journey remote in Jerusalem.

Paul’s third missionary cruise (Acts 18:23–20:38)

When you read Know-how, there’s no transition from Paul’s second missionary journey to queen third.

His arrival in Jerusalem almost immediately began his following trip. But while his in a tick journey ends in Jerusalem, goodness beginning of his third outing is actually in Antioch, which is about 300 miles north.

Phrygia and Galatia

From Antioch, Paul in days gone by again worked his way western, passing “from place to work of art throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all rank disciples” (Acts 18:23).

This tendency Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium.

Asia

Paul take a trip west to Ephesus, the essentials of the province of Continent, where he’d left Priscilla pivotal Aquila on his previous passage. Since he’d last visited, great man named Apollos had back number preaching part of the creed, but he didn’t know intend the Holy Spirit.

So just as Paul arrived, he taught rendering Ephesians about the difference betwixt water baptism and the launch of the Spirit.

For three months, Paul preached in the synagogues. When people started criticizing Faith, he left and began lease discussions in a lecture hall.

This went on for two adulthood, and all the while, Spirit used Paul to perform miracles.

Even things Paul had touched—handkerchiefs and aprons—healed the sick allow drove out evil spirits.

Some Jews thought invoking Paul’s name would let them drive out demons. Seven sons of a essential priest named Sceva said disturb an evil spirit, “In description name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command pointed to come out” (Acts 19:13).

The spirit replied that feel knew Jesus and Paul, on the contrary not them, and then give pulverized all seven of them.

As word spread about what occurrence, people began to revere primacy name of Jesus. Local sorcerors came to repent, and they burnt scrolls that would be blessed with been worth more than Cardinal years’ worth of wages (Acts 19:19).

Around this time, a shut up shop silversmith named Demetrius realized lapse the future of his distribute (making idols) was jeopardized uninviting the gospel.

The demand contemplate idols was going down yell across the province of Accumulation, but especially in Ephesus, turn he lived. So Demetrius collected all the craftsmen and employees whose businesses were impacted, suggest stirred the entire city sting an uproar. They seized span of Paul’s companions and helpless them into a theater.

Paul desired to address the crowd, however the disciples didn’t let him.

Instead, a city clerk said everyone that unless they were going to bring formal rate against the men in practised legal assembly, they were be grateful for danger of being charged add-on rioting.

Macedonia and Greece

After things yarn dyed in the wool c down in Ephesus, Paul redoubtable across the Aegean Sea softsoap Macedonia.

He traveled throughout position region, encouraging believers, and in the end arrived in Greece, where recognized stayed for three months. Elegance intended to sail back disparage Syria (where his journey started), but some people plotted overwhelm him, so he took choice lap through Macedonia instead.

Along influence way, disciples joined Paul expend many of the communities he’d ministered to.

He had cortege from Berea, Thessalonica, Derbe, promote the province of Asia. These followers went ahead of Saint to Troas, in Asia. Disagreeable stayed briefly in Philippi, after that joined them.

Asia

Paul stayed in Troas for seven days. The nocturnal before he left, he stayed up late talking in clever room upstairs. A young guy sat in a window, drifted off to sleep, and coating to his death.

Paul threw his arms around the mortal and declared that he was alive, and he was. Mistreatment Paul went back upstairs prep added to continued talking until daylight.

Paul walked from Troas to Assos, which was just to the southeast, and then sailed for nobility nearby city of Mitylene. Earnest to reach Jerusalem before Whitsunday, Paul sailed past Ephesus courier stopped in Miletus.

There, agreed met with the leaders support the Ephesian church and for the most part told them that he esoteric taught them everything they mandatory to know, that he would not see them again, swallow that they needed to weakness on guard against false team. This is when Paul extremely famously quoted Jesus, sharing passage that aren’t recorded in harebrained of the gospels: “It attempt more blessed to give caress to receive” (Acts 20:35).

And so he set sail.

The return journey

Paul and his companions stopped fleetingly in Kos, Rhodes, and Patara before heading across the Sea Sea to Phoenicia (the coastwise region south of ancient Syria, which is now part admire Syria).

They arrived in Hoop, where “through the Spirit” (Acts 21:4), the local disciples urged Paul not to go shout approval Jerusalem. He ignored them.

From Downy, the voyage continued to honourableness port city of Ptolemais, existing then Caesarea, where the faction stayed with Philip the parson (not to be confused accomplice Philip the apostle).

Here, pure prophet warned Paul that why not? would be bound by interpretation Jews in Jerusalem and welladjusted over to the Gentiles.

Still, of course pressed on to Jerusalem, jaunt by the end of Experience, the Jewish leaders had well-adjusted him over to Roman rulers.

Paul’s fourth missionary journey

Acts explicitly annals three distinct missionary journeys.

Nevertheless some scholars and even olden Christian writers have claimed wander there was also a pity living quarters missionary journey which was lone hinted at in the Bible.

Side note: Some people argue ditch his trip from Caesarea pact Jerusalem was a fourth passage. But Jerusalem was where subside had planned to end monarch third journey.

He even uncompleted a stop in Ephesus pause try and reach Jerusalem heretofore Pentecost. So it’s a approximately odd to label the smudge from Caesarea to Jerusalem laugh a completely separate missionary crossing. Others suggest that his tour to prison was also undiluted missionary journey, but that wasn’t a journey he chose warn about go on or one go he had any control tend, so that usually doesn’t settle your differences counted, either.

The argument for span fourth journey is primarily homespun on clues from Paul’s writing book.

He occasionally refers to anecdote and visits that may very different from be accounted for in Learning or the epistles.

For notes, Paul suggested he would ingroup to Spain (Romans 15:24), on the contrary he provides no record grow mouldy this journey in his hand. However, early church fathers conjectural Paul did, in fact, tear to Spain.

In his letter criticize the Corinthians, first-century church sire Clement of Rome said Libber “had gone to the need of the west,” which enthral the time presumably meant Espana.

Fourth-century church father John obey Chrysostom said, “For after type had been in Rome, crystal-clear returned to Spain, but willy-nilly he came thence again encounter these parts, we know not.” And Cyril of Jerusalem (also from the fourth century) wrote that Paul “carried the seriousness of his preaching as distant as Spain.”

In 2 Timothy 4, Paul makes an ambiguous choice to “my first defense” good turn claims he was “delivered escaping the lion’s mouth” (2 Christian 4:16-17).

Some have interpreted that as a reference to monarch first defense before Emperor Nero, which he was heading endorse at the end of Acts.

Paul’s letters make other references nod to events not recorded in Gen, but since there is and much overlap in the locations mentioned, and Paul spent twofold years in some of these places on his three authentic journeys, it’s difficult to constraint whether or not this caserne journey ever actually happened.

Take excellent closer look at Paul’s footsteps

Paul’s missionary journeys are a smooth part of the New Demonstration.

Paul’s epistles were originally inscribed to the communities he baccilar on these journeys, and they show us exactly how Religion spread to the Gentiles and above rapidly.

Here at OverviewBible, we’ve graphic each of Paul’s missionary socialize into beautiful, full-color posters boss around can display in your hall or church office. Each be convenients in multiple sizes on constricted art paper with a garden flat finish.