Paul's Missionary Journeys
A chronological guide to Paul's four journeys as recorded in Acts 13–28, tracing the spread of the gospel from Syrian Antioch across Asia Minor and Greece to Rome.
First Missionary Journey (c. AD 46–48)
Acts 13–14
Antioch (Syria)
Guided by the Holy Spirit, the church at Antioch commissions Barnabas and Saul and sends them out with prayer and fasting.
Seleucia
Antioch's seaport, where Paul and Barnabas embark for Cyprus.
Salamis, Cyprus
They arrive on the eastern coast of Cyprus and preach in the Jewish synagogues. John Mark accompanies them as an assistant.
Paphos, Cyprus
At the western end of Cyprus, they encounter the sorcerer Bar-Jesus (Elymas) before the proconsul Sergius Paulus, who believes after seeing Elymas struck blind.
Perga
They sail to the coast of Pamphylia. John Mark departs and returns to Jerusalem — a decision that later causes a rift between Paul and Barnabas.
Antioch of Pisidia
Paul preaches in the synagogue, tracing God's faithfulness from the Exodus to Jesus. Many believe, but Jewish leaders drive them out of the region.
Iconium
Paul and Barnabas preach in the synagogue, and both Jews and Gentiles believe. When they learn of a plot to stone them, they flee.
Lystra
Paul heals a man lame from birth. The crowds try to worship Paul and Barnabas as Hermes and Zeus. Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrive and turn the crowd; Paul is stoned and left for dead but survives.
Derbe
They preach the gospel and make many disciples. This is the farthest point of the first journey.
Lystra (return)
Retracing their steps, Paul and Barnabas strengthen the disciples and warn them that "we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
Iconium (return)
They revisit and strengthen the new church here.
Antioch of Pisidia (return)
They appoint elders in each church, committing them to the Lord with prayer and fasting.
Perga (return)
They preach the word in Perga on their return, having passed through it without preaching on the way out.
Attalia
They go down to the port city of Attalia to sail back.
Antioch (Syria) — return
They return to Antioch and report all that God had done, how He had "opened the door of faith to the Gentiles," and remain there for some time.
Second Missionary Journey (c. AD 49–52)
Acts 15:36–18:22
Antioch (Syria)
Paul proposes revisiting the churches. He and Barnabas disagree sharply over John Mark; Barnabas takes Mark to Cyprus, while Paul chooses Silas.
Derbe
Paul and Silas travel overland through Syria and Cilicia, arriving at Derbe.
Lystra
Paul meets Timothy, a young disciple with a Jewish mother and Greek father. Paul circumcises Timothy and takes him along. They deliver the Jerusalem council's decisions to the churches.
Phrygia & Galatia
They travel through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The Holy Spirit prevents them from preaching in the province of Asia.
Mysia / Troas
Bypassing Bithynia, again redirected by the Spirit, they arrive at Troas on the Aegean coast. There Paul receives the "Macedonian call," a vision of a man pleading, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Luke appears to join the group here, as the "we" passages begin.
Samothrace
They sail from Troas and stop at the island of Samothrace overnight.
Neapolis
They land at the port of Neapolis (modern Kavala), the harbor serving Philippi.
Philippi
A major Roman colony. Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, is the first recorded convert in Europe. Paul casts a spirit out of a slave girl, leading to his and Silas's arrest and beating. An earthquake opens the prison; the jailer and his household believe and are baptized.
Amphipolis
They pass through Amphipolis on the Via Egnatia heading west.
Apollonia
Another stop along the Via Egnatia.
Thessalonica
Paul reasons in the synagogue for three Sabbaths, showing from Scripture that the Christ had to suffer and rise. Some Jews and many Greeks believe, but jealous opponents incite a riot and drag Paul's host Jason before the authorities.
Berea
The Berean Jews are described as "more noble" because they examine the Scriptures daily to test Paul's teaching. Many believe. When agitators arrive from Thessalonica, Paul is sent away by sea while Silas and Timothy remain.
Athens
Paul is provoked by the city's idolatry. He debates in the synagogue and the marketplace. Before the Areopagus, he speaks about the "unknown god," quoting Greek poets. Some mock the resurrection, but a few believe, including Dionysius and Damaris.
Corinth
Paul stays eighteen months, working as a tentmaker with Aquila and Priscilla. He is brought before the proconsul Gallio, who dismisses the charges. Paul writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians from here.
Cenchrea
The eastern port of Corinth. Paul has his hair cut in connection with a vow before sailing for Syria.
Ephesus (brief stop)
Paul stops briefly and reasons in the synagogue. The Jews ask him to stay longer, but he declines, promising to return if God wills. He leaves Aquila and Priscilla there.
Caesarea
Paul lands at Caesarea Maritima.
Jerusalem
Paul goes up to greet the church — Acts simply says he "went up," the standard expression for Jerusalem.
Antioch (Syria) — return
Paul returns to Antioch, completing the second journey.
Third Missionary Journey (c. AD 53–57)
Acts 18:23–21:17
Antioch (Syria)
After spending some time in Antioch, Paul sets out again.
Galatia & Phrygia
Paul travels overland through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. He likely writes Galatians during this period.
Ephesus
Paul's longest recorded stay, about two and a half years. He teaches daily in the hall of Tyrannus; miracles follow; the sons of Sceva are overpowered by a demon; many burn their sorcery scrolls publicly. When Demetrius the silversmith stirs up a riot over the threat to the Artemis temple trade, the city breaks into uproar. Paul likely writes 1 Corinthians from here.
Troas
The community gathers to break bread. During Paul's long sermon, Eutychus falls asleep and tumbles from a third-story window; Paul goes down, embraces him, and declares him alive.
Assos
Paul walks overland from Troas to Assos while the others sail. They reunite and continue south.
Mitylene
They stop at Mitylene on the island of Lesbos.
Chios
They sail past or near the island of Chios.
Samos
They stop at or near the island of Samos.
Miletus
Paul summons the Ephesian elders for a farewell address, warning them of false teachers and commending them to God: "I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see my face again." They weep and pray together on the shore.
Cos
They sail to the island of Cos.
Rhodes
They continue to the island of Rhodes.
Patara
At Patara on the Lycian coast, they find a ship crossing to Phoenicia.
Tyre
The ship unloads cargo at Tyre. Paul stays seven days with the disciples, who through the Spirit urge him not to go to Jerusalem. They pray together on the beach at departure.
Ptolemais
A brief stop to greet the believers.
Caesarea
Paul stays with Philip the evangelist. The prophet Agabus dramatizes Paul's coming arrest by binding his own hands and feet with Paul's belt. Despite pleas, Paul insists on going to Jerusalem.
Jerusalem
Paul arrives and is received warmly by the brothers, reporting what God has done among the Gentiles. Within days he is arrested in the temple, beginning the long sequence of trials that leads toward Rome.
Journey to Rome (c. AD 59–60)
Acts 27–28
Caesarea
After two years of imprisonment and hearings before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa, Paul appeals to Caesar. A centurion named Julius of the Augustan cohort takes charge of him for the voyage to Rome.
Sidon
Julius treats Paul kindly, allowing him to go ashore and receive care from friends.
Myra
Working against headwinds under the shelter of Cyprus, they reach Myra in Lycia, where the centurion transfers them to an Alexandrian grain ship bound for Italy.
Cnidus
Slow progress against the wind. They pass near Cnidus but cannot hold course.
Fair Havens, Crete
They reach Fair Havens on the southern coast of Crete with difficulty. Paul warns that continuing will bring disaster, but the centurion follows the captain's advice to press on toward Phoenix for a better winter harbor.
Storm at sea (Adriatic)
A violent northeaster, the "Euroclydon," drives the ship for fourteen days. They jettison cargo, lose hope, and stop eating. Paul encourages them with a word from an angel: all 276 aboard will survive. The ship runs aground and breaks apart, but every person reaches shore.
Malta
The island is Malta. The islanders show unusual kindness. When a viper fastens on Paul's hand and he suffers no harm, the locals are astonished. Paul heals the father of Publius, the chief official, and many others. They winter there for three months.
Syracuse
They sail on a fresh Alexandrian ship and put in at Syracuse in Sicily for three days.
Rhegium
They sail to Rhegium (modern Reggio Calabria) on the toe of Italy.
Puteoli
They land at Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli) near Naples and find believers who invite them to stay seven days.
Forum of Appius
Believers from Rome come to meet Paul at the Forum of Appius, about 43 miles south of Rome.
Three Taverns
Another group meets Paul here, about 33 miles from Rome. Paul thanks God and takes courage.
Rome
Paul is permitted to live under house arrest with a single soldier guard. He gathers the Jewish leaders and explains his situation. For two full years he welcomes all who come, "proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance." Acts ends here.
Travel routes and locations are approximate. Coordinates are based on traditional and scholarly identifications.