Paul’s Missionary Journeys

Paul, originally named Saul, was one of the most influential missionaries of the early church. Because he pioneered the spread of the gospel to non-Jews, he is also revered as the Apostle to the Gentiles. His footprints covered most of Asia Minor, as well as modern-day Greece and Rome. To preach the gospel, he endured many hardships and was eventually martyred. The New Testament consists of 27 books, half of which were written by Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Image: Paul’s early ministry after his conversion, with disciples spreading the gospel outside the province of Judea.

1、On the road to Damascus, the Lord appeared to Saul, who was called and began his ministry in that area (Acts 9:1-22).

2、Saul went to Arabia for three years of study (Galatians 1:17)

3、After three years, Saul returned to Jerusalem to preach after being persecuted in Damascus (Acts 9:23-29; Galatians 1:18)

4、Saul’s life was threatened in Jerusalem, so he returned to his hometown of Tarsus via Caesarea (Acts 9:30)

5、Saul preached and established churches in Syria and Cilicia for about eleven years (Galatians 1:21)

6、Scattered disciples preached the gospel in Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch (Acts 11:19-21)

7、The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to encourage the believers. Barnabas then went to Tarsus, brought Saul back to Antioch, and they worked together for one year (Acts 11:22-26)

Image: Paul’s First Missionary Journey. He mainly preached in Cyprus and Asia Minor and may have written Galatians in Antioch of Syria.

1、Paul and others were sent by the Holy Spirit from Antioch to Cyprus, traveling from Salamis across the entire island to Paphos (Acts 13:1-12)

2、Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13)

3、John Mark left Paul and his companions at Perga and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13)

4、Paul and his companions preached in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, and then returned to Perga (Acts 13:14-14:23)

5、Paul returned to Antioch via Attalia (Acts 14:24-26)

6、Paul and others went up from Antioch to Jerusalem, passing through Phoenicia and Samaria, preaching the gospel along the way (Acts 15:1-4)

Image: Paul’s Second Missionary Journey, bringing the gospel to Europe, first to Macedonia and then to Greece. He wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians in Corinth, and Galatians may also have been written there.

1、Paul and Barnabas were sent from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 15:22-38).

2、Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement over John Mark. Barnabas and Mark sailed to Cyprus (Acts 15:39)

3、Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches (Acts 15:40-41)

4、Paul went to Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium (Acts 16:1-5)

5、The Holy Spirit prevented Paul from preaching in Asia. He went through Phrygia, Galatia, and Mysia. On the border of Mysia, he tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit it. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas, where Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10)

6、Paul traveled to Philippi (Acts 16:11-40)

7、Paul went to Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17:1-14)

8、Paul traveled to Athens and Corinth, where he stayed for a year and a half (Acts 17:15-18:18)

9、Paul went to Ephesus (Acts 18:19-21)

10、He returned to Jerusalem via Caesarea (Acts 18:22)

Image: Paul’s Third Missionary Journey. He wrote 1 Corinthians in Ephesus, 2 Corinthians in Macedonia, and Romans in Corinth.

1、Paul traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch and, after some time, went through Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen the disciples (Acts 18:23).

2、Paul preached in Ephesus for more than two years (Acts 19:1-40)

3、Paul went to Macedonia (Acts 20:1)

4、Paul traveled throughout Macedonia and later went to Greece, where he stayed for three months (Acts 20:2)

5、Paul sailed from Philippi to Troas (Acts 20:6-12)

6、Paul walked to Assos, then sailed to Mitylene, Samos, Miletus, Coos, Rhodes, Patara, Tyre, Ptolemais, and Caesarea, before returning to Jerusalem (Acts 20:13-21:15)

Image: Paul’s journey to Rome as a prisoner to stand trial.

1、Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and sent to Caesarea (Acts 21:27-23:30).

2、He was imprisoned in Caesarea for two years. After a trial, he was sent to Rome (Acts 23:31-26:32)

3、Paul was sent by ship via Sidon and Myra to Fair Havens (Acts 27:1-8).

4、Paul and his companions survived a dangerous storm at sea and arrived in Malta (Acts 27:9-44).

5、From Malta, they traveled via Syracuse, Rhegium, and Puteoli to Rome, where he continued to preach for two years while awaiting trial (Acts 28:1-17).

Image: Paul’s Three Missionary Journeys.

Images authorized by the Holy Light Bible Geography Information Network.

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