Wednesday Bible Study

The Life and Times of Paul the Apostle – Cheat Sheet

The Early Days of Paul the Apostle

• Born in Tarsus
  • Prosperous and privileged (exempt from Roman taxation) city and educational center in the province of Cilicia – a region in the extreme southeastern part of Asia Minor. Well cultured and famous for its educational institutions.
  • Possesses Roman citizenship via paternal family
  • Somewhere learns the trade of tentmaking
• Receives rabbinic training in Jerusalem
  • Was a “Hebrews of Hebrews” Phil. 3
    • Culturally and linguistically, he and his parents were Jewish in their religious and social expression.
  • Was trained by Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 5)
    • Was a Pharisee of the Hillel school
• Was a Pharisee of the most zealous
  • Lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion – Acts 26:5
  • Which likely meant he was married.
• Conversion- Acts 9:1-9; 22:4-16; 26:9-17: c.a. A.D. 32-35: within 1.5 years of Jesus’ death and resurrection
  • Is actively killing Christians when Christ Himself appears to him on the road to Damascus
  • He is baptized soon after by Ananias. Receives an essentially immediate call to take the gospel to the nations – Acts 26:16-18
• Paul’s Early journeys – Galatians 1:15-2:14
  • Goes into Arabia for no more than 3 years – A.D. 35-37
    • Arabia is the Nabataean Kingdom, northeast of the Dead Sea
    • Shows the importance of training and being prepared for ministry
    • Likely met with Christ and reworked through the whole OT
  • Serves faithfully in Damascus before going to Jerusalem to consult with Peter and James, the brother of Jesus. During this service in Damascus is when he is lowered down the wall in a basket in Acts 9:25.
  • Serves faithfully in Syria (Antioch) and Cilicia (Tarsus) over a period of 11 years. – A.D. 37-45
  • The dating of Paul’s letters rests in some part on how many and how long between the Jerusalem visits. It seems likely there is at least a decade from conversion before we see Him called and sent off by the Holy Spirit in Acts 13.

Paul’s First Missionary Journey – c.a. A.D. 47-48

• He receives a call in Antioch; he and Barnabas are sent out A.D. 47. This follows a period of at least 14 years of ministry since his conversion.
• Paul and Barnabas take John Mark with them.
• Visit Salamis and Paphos in Cyprus, followed by Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe in Asia Minor
• They enter the Synagogue first, once the Jews accepted or rejected them, they turned to gentiles.
• John Mark leaves them at Perga
• The journey is 1,400 miles and took 1-5 years to complete. Likely around 18 months.
• After the journey, Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem A.D. 49 – Jerusalem Council – Acts 15

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey – c.a. A.D. 48/50-5152

• Paul and Barnabas spend several years ministering in Antioch before/after the Jerusalem Council – Acts 15
• Paul and Barnabas split over taking John Mark or bailed on the first journey; Paul takes Silas
• Revisits the churches of Asia Minor from the first journey; crosses the Aegean Sea into Macedonia and Greece after Lord prohibits him from going to Asia
• He goes through southern Galatia, Asia Minor, then to Macedonia – Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea – and then to Achaia – Athens, and Corinth. Paul remains in Corinth for 18 months.
• The journey travels 2800 miles and takes around 2 years to complete.
• Paul stands before Gallio in Corinth during the summer of A.D. 51
• During this time, Galatians is written from Antioch or Jerusalem. It could be before or after the journey depending on if South Galatia or North Galatia.
• During this time, 1 and 2 Thessalonians are written (A.D. 50) from Corinth.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey – c.a. A.D. 52-57

• Paul passes through the previous territories in Asia Minor, Galatia, and Phrygia. Spends 3 years ministering in Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila were left. Meets Titus in Macedonia.
• Some believe Paul also ministered in Illyricum – Modern day Albania and Yugoslavia. Unknown and speculative at best.
• Visits Macedonia and Greece before returning to Jerusalem with offerings for relief for the poor
• This journey traveled 2,700 miles and took at least 3.5 years and up to 5 years.
• During this time, 1 and 2 Corinthians are written from Ephesus and Macedonia, respectively (A.D. 53-54 and A.D. 54-55)
• Romans is written in Greece (A.D. 57 or 59).

Paul’s Jerusalem Arrest and Journey to Rome

• Paul returns to Palestine – A.D. 57
• Paul is arrested in a frenzy by Jews who wrongly accuse him of taking a gentile into the Temple.
• Romans imprison Paul
• Paul defends himself before
  • Sanhedrin
  • Roman Gov. Felix
  • Next, Roman Gov. Festus
• Invokes right to appeal to Caesar
• He is evaluated by Agrippa II
• Is in Prison on Caesarea Maritime for 2 years: A.D. 57-59
• Voyage to Rome – A.D. 59-60
  • Shipwrecked near Malta, where he remains for winter
  • Imprisoned – house arrest style – in Rome – A.D. 60-62
    • Tradition states Paul is released
    • Scripture seems to back this up.

Paul’s Latter Days

• Tradition holds that Paul is released from Caesar and under house arrest. There are two theories for where he goes.
  • Some say he made it to Spain – which is Tarsus and the “Ends of the Earth.”
  • Some say he just went back to the Asia Minor and Greece area and continued work.
• Dies at the hands of Nero as early as A.D. 64 or as late as early A.D. 68