Chronology Of Paul’s Life And Ministry
Note: The actual dating of the events are still disputed by scholars.
6 AD – Born a Roman citizen in the Tarsus of Cilicia (modern-day eastern Turkey) to an Israelite family of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5).
20 to 30 AD – Went to Jerusalem to study in a Pharisaic Rabbinical school headed by the well-known Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 5:34) and was personally taught by him (Acts 22:3). Gamaliel was one of the premier teachers of the Law in the first century in the tradition of the great Hillel
32 AD – Martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:54-60)
33 to 36 AD – Conversion of Saul and his baptism (Acts 9). Fled Damascus and spend 3 years in Arabia where he is personally taught by Jesus (Galatians 1:11-12, 15-18)
36 AD – Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion (Acts 9:26, Galatians 1:18-19)
36 to 40 AD – Paul stayed and preached in his hometown of Tarsus
40 to 41 AD – Growth in the Antioch church (Acts 11:20-21). Barnabas travels to Tarsus to seek Paul’s help with teaching the newly converted Syrian Antioch Gentiles
42 AD – God reveals that a three-year famine will soon occur in Antioch (Acts 11:27-28)
44 to 46 AD – Paul and Barnabas escort food and relief supplies to Jerusalem (Acts 12:25). Both are ordained by the church as apostles (Acts 13:1-3)
46 to 49 AD – Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch for around three years (Acts 14:26-28) then they both went on separate ways (Acts 15:36-41)
50 to 52 AD – Paul’s Second Missionary Journey begins with Silas from Antioch to Syria, Cilicia, southern Galatia, Macedonia, notably Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea; and then on to Achaia, notably Athens and Corinth (Acts 15:36–18:22).
52 to 53 AD – Peter is rebuked in public by Paul (Galatians 2:11-20). Paul’s Third Missionary Journey begins
54 to 55 AD – Paul travels to Ephesus and live there for a little more than 3 years (Acts 19:1-20) and wrote letters to Galatians and Corinthians
55 to 57 AD – Travels through Greece and possibly Illyricum (modern Yugoslavia); wrote letters to Romans and in 56 AD set sail to Macedonia (Acts 20:1)
58 AD – Travelled back to Troas (Acts 20:6) then to Assos and set sail for Miletus. From Miletus Paul sends a message asking that the Ephesian elders come see him. When they arrive he warns about false teachings and church splits (Acts 20:26-31). He then sails to Patara and then to Tyre (Acts 21:1-4). After spending a week in Tyre he sails to Caesarea (Acts 21:5-6). While in the city Paul stayed in the home of Philip the evangelist for a few days and then leaves for Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-15). In late 58 AD Paul visits James in Jerusalem.
58 to 60 AD – Governor Felix holds Paul as a prisoner in Caesarea for more than two years (Acts 24:27). Appears before Festus (who succeeded Felix) and appeals to Caesar; voyage to Rome, Paul’s Fourth Missionary Journey
61 to 63 AD – In Rome, Paul is allowed to live by himself with only one soldier to guard him (under house arrest) and continues preaching the Gospel; wrote the Prison Epistles to Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon
63 AD – The Roman authorities acquitted Paul of all charges against him and he is set free
63 to 67 AD – After his acquittal Paul journeys to Crete (Titus 1:5) and begins what will be his final missionary journey. From Crete he travels to Nicopolis (Titus 3:12) then likely leaves to fulfil his goal of preaching the gospel in Spain (Romans 15:22-28), possibly Great Britain, and other areas
67 AD – Thrown back in prison in Rome (the book of 2 Timothy)
68 AD – Paul is martyred around May or June
