Timeline of the Apostle Paul
3 BC – 34 AD
- Born
an Israelite in Tarsus around
the same time of Jesus and John the Baptist Acts 22:3, Phil 3:5
- He was
a Roman citizen by birth right Acts 22:28
- Paul
starts school at age 6 or 7 where the OT would be the focus of his study.
- At age
13 he would go through bar mitzvah, assuming full obligation of the law.
- At
Jerusalem Paul studies and trains under the famous teacher Gamaliel. Acts 22:3
35 AD – 43 AD
- Paul
watches and consents to Stephen’s death. Acts 7:58, 8:1
- He
inflicts great persecution on Christians. Acts 8:1-3, 26:10-11, Phil
3:6
- On the
road to Damascus Paul meets
Jesus and is converted and baptized. Acts 9
- At
some point over the next 3 years Paul goes to Arabia
and then returns back to Damascus.
Gal 1:17
- Paul’s
life is in danger and he escapes Damascus
by being lowered down the outside wall through a window in a big basket. Acts
9:24, 2Cor 11:32-33
- Paul
makes his way to Jerusalem and
Barnabas brings him to the apostles. Acts 9:26-29, Gal 1:18
- Once
again Paul’s life is in danger and he travels to Tarsus.
Acts 9:30
- Later,
Barnabas goes to Tarsus and
finds Paul and they go to Antioch
and teach a great number of people over the next year. Acts 11: 25-26
- Paul
and Barnabas deliver aid to the brethren in Jerusalem.
Acts 11:29-30
- Completing
their mission they return to Antioch
with Mark. Acts 12:25
First Missionary Journey 44 AD – 49 AD
- The
Holy Spirit separates Paul and Barnabas out for this Journey. Acts
13:2-3
- They
travel to Seleucia
and set sail to the island of Cyprus
Acts 13:4
- They
preach in the Synagogues at Salamis
and Mark assists them Acts 13:5
- At Paphos they encounter a false prophet named Bar-Jesus
who tries to keep the proconsul, Sergius Paulis, from hearing the word of God. Paul strikes
Bar-Jesus blind by the power of the Holy Spirit and the proconsul
believes. Acts 13:6-12
- When
they arrive at Perga, Mark departs and returns
to Jerusalem. Acts 13:13
- Paul
and Barnabas continue onto Antioch
in Pisidia. Paul preaches his first and longest
recorded sermon in the synagogue. Acts 13:14-49
- They
are driven out of Antioch and
they go to Iconium where they stay for a long
time boldly speaking the word of God. Acts 13:50 - 14:3
- Their
lives are threatened so the flee toward Lystra
and Derbe. Acts 14:4-7
- In Lystra, Paul heals a crippled man and the crowds try
to worship them. Acts 14:8-18
- Paul
is stoned and drug outside the city presumed dead, but he gets up and goes
back into the city and the next day Paul and Barnabas go to Derbe. Acts 14:19-20
- At Derbe they make many disciples. Then they return back
to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch
to strengthen the churches there and to appoint elders. Acts 14:21-23
- They
preach at Perga and return back to Antioch
in Syria
where they report to the church everything that happened on their journey.
Acts 14:24-28
- Paul
and Barnabas are sent to Jerusalem
to ask the apostles and the elders if Gentiles have to be circumcised.
They decide that Gentiles don’t have to be circumcised and they send Paul
and Barnabas and other men back to Antioch
with a letter explaining this. Acts 15:1-34, Gal 12:1
- They
preach and teach at Antioch. Acts
15:35
- Paul
possible writes Galatians from Antioch.
2nd Missionary
Journey 50 AD – 54 AD
- Paul
and Barnabas separate from one another over Mark Acts 15:36-39
- Paul and
Silas join forces and go through Syria
and Cilicia strengthening
the churches. Acts 15:40-41
- They
go to Derbe and Lystra
and Timothy joins the journey. Acts 16:1-5
- They
go to Troas and Paul has a vision of a Macedonian
man asking for help. Acts 16:6-10
- They
sail to Neapolis and travel to Philippi
where they meet Lydia
and convert her and her household. Acts 16:11-15
- Paul
and Silas are thrown into jail after Paul cast a demon out of a slave
girl. Acts 16:16-25
- A
great earthquake opens the jail doors and chains holding the prisoners.
Paul and Silas convert the Philippian jailer and
his household. Acts 16:25-34
- They
preach the word of God in the synagogue at Thessalonica and convert men
and women. Acts 17:1-10
- They
flee to Berea and convert more
people. Paul goes to Athens
while Timothy and Silas stay behind. Paul sends word for them to join him.
Acts 17:10-15
- Paul
preaches to the people at Athens
converting men and women. Acts 17:16-34
- Paul
goes to Corinth and Timothy
and Silas join him there. They teach the word of god for a year and six
months there. Acts 18:1-17
- Paul
writes 1st and 2nd Thessalonians
- Paul
returns to Antioch of Syria after stopping at Ephesus,
Caesarea, and Jerusalem.
Acts 18:18-22
3rd Missionary
Journey 54 AD – 58 AD
- Paul
travels through Galatia
and Phrygia strengthening the disciples Acts 18:23
- At
Ephesus Paul re-baptizes some disciples that had only had John’s baptism. Acts
19:1-7
- Timothy
is sent to Corinth 1Cor 4:17 He returns to Ephesus
later. 1 Cor 16:10-11
- Paul
writes 1st Corinthians.
- Paul
preaches in the synagogue for 3 months and then at the school
of Tyrannus
for 2 years. Acts 9:8-10
- He
sends Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia.
Acts 19:21
- On his
way to Macedonia Paul stops at Troas to meet up
with Titus, but he never shows up. Acts 20:1, 2Cor 2:13
- Paul
meets up with Titus possible in Philippi and writes
2 Cor. sending Titus with the letter to the
Corinthians. 2 Cor. 7:6, 8:6, Acts 20:2
- He
goes to Greece
for 3 months and writes the book of Romans Acts 20:2-3
- From
Greece Timothy and other brethren go ahead of Paul to meet him latter at Troas.
Acts 20:4-6
- Paul
stays 7 days at Troas and partakes of the Lord’s
Supper. Acts 20:7-12
- He
travels to Assos by foot and sails to Mitylene, Chios,
Samos, Togyllium, and stops at Miletus. Acts 20:13-16
- Paul
sends for the Ephesians elders and he exhorts them. Acts 20:17-38
- From
there he sails to Cos, Rhodes,
Patara and they stop at Tyre for 7 days. Acts
21:3-6
- Next
he stays at Ptolemais for one day. Acts 21:7
- At
Caesarea Paul stays with Philip the evangelist. Acts 21:8-14
At Jerusalem and the Journey to Rome 58AD – 62AD
- Paul goes to Jerusalem
and is arrested in the temple causing a mob Acts 21: 15-36
- Paul speaks the mob. Acts 21:37 – 22:21
- He speaks to the Sanhedrin Council Acts 22:30 – 23:10
- Some Jews plot against Paul and take an oath not to
eat or drink until they kill him Acts 23: 12-23
- Paul is sent safely to governor
Felix in Caesarea. Acts 23: 23-25
- Paul gives his defense to Felix but he leaves him
bound for 2 years Acts 24:10-27
- Paul Speaks before Festus and appeals to Caesar. Acts
25:1-12
- He speaks before King Agrippa and almost persuades
him to be a Christian Acts 25:13 – 26:32
- Paul and the other prisoners began their journey to Rome.
Acts 27:1-2
- At Sidon Paul gets to visit
with his friends and then continues on to Myra.
Acts 27:3-5
- They change boats and sail to Fair Havens. Acts
27:6-8
- Against Paul’s warnings they set sail for Phoenix.
A strong wind comes through and forces them by Clauda
and then out to sea until they shipwreck at Malta.
Acts 27:9 – 28:1
- At Malta Paul survives a viper bite and heals many of
the natives over the next 3 months. Acts 28:2-10
- From there, they sail to Syracuse
and stay for 3 days. Acts 28:11-12
- They sail to Rhegium and
then to Pateoli where he was allowed to stay 7
days with his brethren. Acts 28:13
- At Rome,
Paul stayed for 2 years under house arrest in his own rented house where
he could receive visitors and preach the word. Acts 28: 17-31
- Paul writes
Philemon, Colossians,
Ephesians, and Philippians.
- Timothy is at Rome
with Paul part of the time. Phil. 1:1, Col
1:1, Phm. 1:1
- Timothy was in prison as some point during this time.
Heb. 13:23
63AD – 67AD
- Paul
is released from his 1st Roman imprisonment as he anticipated Phm.
1:22 Phil. 2:19-24
- He
possible goes to Spain
Rom 15:28
- Paul
goes to Crete where he leaves Titus to work with
the church. Titus 1:5
- He
travels to Miletus
2Tim 4:20 and
possible goes to Colossae
Phm. 1:22
- Paul
meets up with Timothy in Ephesus
and leaves him there to work with the church as he travels to Macedonia.
1Tim 1:3
- He
was at Troas where he leaves his books and cloak 2Tim
4:13
- Paul
goes to Philippi and possible writes 1 Timothy Phil.
2:19-24
- He
possible writes Titus on his way to Nicopolis
where he planned to spend the winter. Titus 3:12
- After
2 years or more being free Paul is again arrested.
- Paul
writes his last letter 2 Timothy where he sends for Timothy. 2Tim
4:9-12
- Paul’s
life comes to an end.