The Timeline of Paul’s Ministry (Study Aid)

The Timeline of Paul’s Ministry

(The timeline below can be useful for orientating oneself in Paul’s time when studying Acts and Paul’s Epistles)

YEAR AD Approx.	CHURCH EVENT	N.T. BOOK WRITTEN
5	·    Paul - Born—an Israelite—in Tarsus of Cilicia (Acts 22:3; Phil 3:5) ·    A Roman citizen by birthright (Acts 22:28)
15-20	·    At the school of Gamaliel, Jerusalem (Acts 22:3)
30	·    Jesus Death, Resurrection, Ascension ·    Day of Pentecost in Acts 2
31	·    Peter heals crippled man in temple (Ac.3) ·    Peter and John arrested by Sanhedrin (Ac.2)
32	·    Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus (Barnabas) sells a field (Ac.4:36) ·    Ananias and Sapphira Die ·    The Jerusalem church meets by the temple in Solomon’s Colonnade (Porch) (Ac.5:12) ·    Apostles perform many miracles ·    Apostles arrested but released by angel
33	·    Seven deacons chosen (Ac. 6) ·    Church is growing rapidly (Ac.6:7) ·    A large number of priests believe (Ac.6:7)
34	·    Saul arrives in Jerusalem ·    Stephen debates Jews coming from Cyrene, Cilicia (i.e. Saul), Alexandria (Ac.6:9) ·    Stephen arrested by Sanhedrin (Ac.6:12) ·    Stephen stoned (Ac.7:59, 8:1) ·    Saul persecutes the church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-3; Phil 3:6) ·    Philip goes to Samaria (Ac.8:4) ·    Philip meets Ethiopian Treasurer (Ac.8:26)	Israel’s last chance at repentance
35	·    Saul converted on road to Damascus (Ac.9:1) ·    Saul is in Damascus (Acts 9:10-19) ·    Saul leaves for Arabia (Gal.1:17)	Israel blinded! The time of the Gentiles begins
36	·    Saul is in Arabia
37	·    Saul is in Arabia
38	·    Saul returns to preach in Damascus (Gal 1:17; Acts 9:20-25; 2 Cor 11:32-33) ·    Saul’s life is threatened (Ac.9:23) ·    Saul escapes to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-29; Gal 1:18) ·    Barnabas introduces Saul to disciples ·    Saul stays with Peter 15 days (Gal.1:18-19) ·    Saul debates Grecian Jews (Ac.9:29) ·    Saul flees to Tarsus in Cilicia (Ac.9:29,30)
39	·    Saul preaches in Cilicia and Syria for five years (Gal.1:21) ·    Persecution has ceased in Jerusalem ·    Jerusalem church continues to grow (Ac.9:31) ·    Peter travels Judean Countryside (Ac.9:32) ·    Peter heals Aeneas in Lydda (Ac.9:33) ·    Peter raises Tabitha in Joppa (Ac.9:36) ·    Peter called to Caesarea by Cornelius (A.10)
40	·    Peter has to defend having preached in a Gentile house to the church leaders in Jerusalem. (Ac.11) ·    Missionaries from Cyrene in North Africa come to Antioch in Syria and preach to the Gentiles (Ac.11:20) ·    Saul is preaching in Cilicia and Syria
41	·    Saul is preaching in Cilicia and Syria ·    Jerusalem expands the city walls which places the site of the crucifixion inside the city
42	·    Saul is preaching in Cilicia and Syria ·    Barnabas is sent to visit the church in Antioch by the Jerusalem church (Ac.11:22)
43	·    Saul is preaching in Cilicia and Syria Barnabas leaves Antioch to look for Saul in Tarsus (Ac.11:25) ·    Barnabas brings Saul back to teach in the church in Antioch in Syria (Ac.11:26) ·    Saul teaches in Antioch for a year (Ac.11:26) Believers are first called “Christians”
44	·    Agabus, a prophet from Jerusalem, visits Antioch church ·    Agabus prophesies a famine (Acts 11:27, 28) ·    Antioch church sends Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem with an aid offering (11:29,30) ·    James is beheaded by Herod Agrippa I ·    Peter is arrested but an angel releases him ·    Herod Agrippa I dies in Caesarea (12:18)
45	·    Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch (Acts 11:26) ·    John Mark leaves Jerusalem to go to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas	- James writes James from Jerusalem - Saul changes his name to Paul
46	·    Paul and Barnabas leave for first missionary journey
47	·    Peter has come to Antioch in Syria (Gal.2:11) ·    Paul travels in Galatia to Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, (Acts 13:14-50) ·    Flees to Lystra and Derbe (Acts 14:6-7) ·    In Lystra Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for gods (Acts 14:8-18) ·    Stoned at Lystra, supposed to be dead, but re-enters the city (Acts 14:19-20) ·    They return to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch to strengthen disciples and appoint elders (Acts 14:21-24) ·    From Pisidia, they returned to Antioch of Syria and reported their journey to the church (Acts 14:24-28) ·    James sends Jews from Jerusalem to Antioch (Gal.2:12) ·    Judaizers confuse the Antioch church
48	·    Paul returns through the same cities and sails back to Antioch ·    Peter and Barnabas are led astray by Judaizers from Jerusalem (G.2:13) ·    Paul opposes Peter and the Judaizers (Gal.2:14) ·    To resolve the conflict of Judaism & Christianity the Jerusalem Council is held (Acts 15; Gal.2:1-10) ·    Paul goes to Jerusalem Council ·    Judas and Silas are chosen by the apostles to return to Jerusalem Paul and Barnabas (Ac.15:22)
49	·    Paul teaches in Antioch (Acts 15:30-35; Galatians 2:11-14) ·    Paul writes to the Galatians against the Judaizers who have gone there ·    Paul and Barnabas argue over John Mark and separate (Acts 15:36-39) ·    Paul leaves on second missionary journey through Galatia to Troas	Paul writes Galatians from Antioch in Syria? (South Galatia)
50	·    In Troas (ancient Troy), Paul sees a vision of a Macedonian man ·    Paul goes to Macedonia (Ac.16:6-10) ·    They sail from Troas to Neapolis (Acts 16:11) ·    To Philippi where Paul meets Lydia (Acts 16:12-15) ·    Paul and Silas imprisoned in Philippi after casting out a demon from a slave girl (Acts 16:16-25) ·    Prison doors opened miraculously and the jailer saved (Acts 16:25-34) ·    Paul preaches in Thessalonica, starts a church and a riot (Ac.17:1-9) ·    Paul goes to Berea but flees to Athens (Ac.17:1015) ·    Paul arrives in Athens alone, preaches in the streets, is invited to present at the Areopagus in Athens (17:19) ·    In the fall, Paul goes to Corinth alone without money and gets a job (18:1-4)
51	·    Silas and Timothy bring an offering and a letter from Macedonia (18:5) ·    Paul responds to Thessalonians with a a letter, First Thessalonians ·    Paul stays in Corinth, starts Corinthian church, appears before Gallio (18:12)	Paul writes First Thessalonians from Corinth
52	·    Paul writes Second Thessalonians in response to questions from Thessalonica. ·    Paul leaves Corinth in the spring and sails for Ephesus. ·    Paul reasoned in the synagogue and left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus (18:19) ·    Paul sails to Jerusalem, greets the church there and returns to Antioch, Syria	Paul writes Second Thessalonians from Corinth
53	·    Paul spends time in Antioch. ·    Paul begins third missionary journey traveling through Galatia and Phrygia ·    In Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla explain the gospel to Apollos (18:24-26) ·    Apollos goes to Corinth (18:27) ·    Paul arrives in Ephesus ·    Paul stays in Ephesus for three years ·    Paul teaches daily the lecture hall of Tyrannus for two years. (19:9)	Paul writes Galatians from Antioch in Syria? (North Galatia)
54	·    Paul is in Ephesus all year (Acts 19) ·    Paul sends Timothy into Macedonia (Acts 19:22)
55	·    Paul writes the Corinthians his first of four letters (not 1 Corinthians) mentioned in 1 Co.5:9. In this letter Paul instructs them to collect money for the Jerusalem saints. (1 Cor.16:1) An offering for the Jerusalem believers is started and in year Paul will speak of this offering in his letter called Second Corinthians (2 Co.8:10) ·    A delegation from the Corinthian church arrives in Ephesus with problems and questions. ·    Paul writes First Corinthians in Ephesus and sends it to Corinth.  (This is his second letter to Corinth.) ·    Paul follows this letter with a quick visit directly across the Aegean Sea from Ephesus to Corinth and back. (2 Cor. 2:1) This would have been his second visit to Corinth (2 Cor.12:14; 13:1,2) ·    Paul writes a third letter (which we do not have) in Ephesus and sends it to Corinth. (2 Cor.2:3,4; 7:8,9,12) Titus carries this letter and stays to fix the church. (2 Cor.7:15, 13,14)	Paul writes First Corinthians from Ephesus     The gospel of Mark is written any time between 55-65 A.D.
56	·    In the fall Paul leaves Ephesus for Corinth and goes through Troas and into Macedonia ·    While Paul is traveling through Macedonia he meets Titus who has left Corinth to return to Ephesus (2 Cor.7:5,6) ·    In Macedonia Paul writes his fourth letter to the Corinthians known as Second Corinthians (2 Co.2:13; 7:5) ·    Titus and Luke are sent back to Corinth with the letter Second Corinthians (2 Cor.8:17,18) ·    Paul follows them into Corinth to spend the winter in Corinth	Paul writes Second Corinthians from Macedonia
57	·    In the spring, Paul writes to the Roman church from Corinth and sends the letter of Romans with a delegation of people led by Phoebe to Rome. (Rom.16:1) ·    Paul plans to sail to Syria from Cenchea but the Jews planned to kill him so he went by land up through Macedonia and down past Ephesus (Acts 20:3-6) ·    Paul arrives in Jerusalem (Acts 21:17) ·    Paul is arrested at the temple (Acts 21:27) ·    Addresses the mob (Acts 21:37 - 22:21) ·    Paul's citizenship saves him from scourging (Acts 22:22-29) ·    Paul is placed in prison in Jerusalem at Fort Antonia (21:37; 22:24) and appears before the Sanhedrin (Acts 22:30 - 23:10) ·    Jesus tells Paul that he will bear witness of him in Rome (Acts 23:11) ·    The plot against Paul's life (Acts 23:12-22) ·    Sent safely to Felix the governor (Acts 23:23-35) ·    Jews plan to kill Paul so Paul is transferred to Caesarea (Acts 23:23) ·    Paul is in prison in Caesarea for two years (Acts 24:27) ·    Paul appears before Felix (Acts 24) ·    The book of Hebrews is written by an unknown author.	Paul writes Romans from Corinth     The book of Hebrews is written by an unknown author from an unknown location. (Possibly earlier by Paul, or else Barnabas or Apollos from Corinth or Ephesus)
58	·    Paul in prison in Caesarea
59	·    Paul in prison in Caesarea ·    Paul appears before Festus and King Herod Agrippa II (Acts 25,26) ·    Paul appeals to Caesar in Rome (25:11) so Paul is sent to Rome by Festus (25:12) and Agrippa (26:32) ·    In an attempt to beat the coming winter a ship of prisoners leaves for Rome (Acts 27) ·    Paul advised the commanding centurion, Julius, to harbor at Fair Havens on Crete but they decided to go onto Phoenix.  The ship was blown off course out into the Mediterranean Sea and crashed near Malta. (Acts 27:9-28:10)
60	·    Paul arrives in Rome and is allowed to live by himself with a Roman soldier to guard him (Acts 28:16)	Paul writes Ephesians from Roman imprisonment The gospel of Luke is written approx. at this time.
61	·    Paul continues in Rome under house arrest.	Paul writes Philippians from Roman imprisonment
62	·    Paul continues in Rome under house arrest ·    Peter comes to Rome and writes First Peter     ·    Paul is released from Roman imprisonment. ·    Paul either leaves for Spain or first visits Philippi and Corinth along with other churches in Achaia and Macedonia.     ·    Paul writes Timothy a letter.  Timothy is in Ephesus and Paul may have written it from Macedonia.   ·    Paul leaves for Spain	Paul writes Colossians and Philemon from Roman imprisonment Peter writes First Peter from Rome   Paul writes First Timothy from Macedonia   Acts Earliest Date 62 A.D. ??
63	·    James, the Lord’s brother, is martyred in Jerusalem. ·    Paul is in Spain
64	·    Paul is in Spain ·    Peter writes Second Peter from Rome ·    Peter is martyred in Rome ·    Paul returns from Spain to Crete. ·    Paul leaves Titus at Crete (Titus 1:5) ·    Paul goes to Corinth and writes Titus the epistle called Titus ·    Paul spends the winter in Neapolis (Titus 3:12)	Peter writes Second Peter from Rome   Paul writes Titus from Corinth
65	·    Paul travels through Macedonia and Asia
66	·    Paul probably spends time in Colosse, Ephesus, Miletus
67	·    Paul leaves Asia for Macedonia but is arrested in Troas and taken to Rome ·    While in prison in Rome Paul writes to Timothy in Ephesus the letter called Second Timothy ·    Paul is possibly executed by Nero in the fall or in the spring of 68	Paul writes Second Timothy from Roman Prison
68	·    Paul is executed by Nero on the Ostian Way or the road from Rome to Ostia.	Another possible date for Hebrews??
69	·    Ignatius (35-110) becomes bishop in Antioch, Syria.  Knew Peter and Paul.
70	·    July 1, Titus assaults Jerusalem’s walls battering rams ·    August 8, Fort Antonia is destroyed ·    August 29, Rome’s 10th Legion burns the temple in Jerusalem after a nine-month siege of the city ·    Josephus records that Rome took 50 tons of gold and silver from Jerusalem
71	·    Emperor Vespasian and his son General Titus enter Rome and parade through the streets with the plundered treasure from Jerusalem. ·    The Jerusalem gold is used to finance the building of the Colosseum in Rome.  The Colosseum will open in 80 AD
72	·    -
73	·    -
85	·    Polycarp (69-155) is bishop of the church in Smyrna.	John writes the gospel of John in Ephesus   John writes 1, 2, 3 John in Ephesus
88	·    Clement (30? -100) is bishop of the church in Rome. ·    Clement worked alongside of Paul around 57-62 AD (Phil.4:3)
94	·    John sent to the Isle of Patmos by Emperor Domitian	Gospel of John 94 A.D. ??
95	·    John on the Isle of Patmos ·    Papias (60-135) is bishop of Hierapolis in Asia
96	·    John receives the book of Revelation while on the Isle of Patmos and sends it to the seven churches of Asia ·    Domitian dies and the new emperor, Nerva, releases Domitian’s political enemies ·    John is released from Patmos and returns to Ephesus	Suggested time of John writing Revelation on Patmos? Could have been written between 54AD-68AD?
97	·    Clement, bishop of Rome, writes an epistle to the church of Corinth, First Clement
98	·    The last apostle of Jesus, John, dies of natural causes in Ephesus