Paul's Second Missionary Journey

Cities

Ports

Outbound leg

Return leg

Antioch (Syria) (Acts 15:36–40)

Paul and Barnabas part sharply over John Mark. Paul chooses Silas and sets out by land.

Syria & Cilicia (Acts 15:41)

Paul goes through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Derbe (Acts 16:1)

Paul returns to Derbe, the farthest point of his first journey.

Lystra (Acts 16:1–5)

Paul recruits Timothy, whose mother was a believing Jew and whose father was a Greek.

Timothy Joins the Team

Paul circumcises Timothy “because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all knew that his father was a Greek,” and together they deliver the Jerusalem Council's decrees to the churches, which “were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.”

Troas (Acts 16:6–10)

Forbidden to speak the word in Asia, the team comes to Troas, where Paul sees the Macedonian vision.

The Call to Europe

A man of Macedonia in a vision beseeches Paul, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.”

• Here the narrative shifts to “we” — commonly taken to mean that Luke joins the team at Troas.
• The gospel is about to cross into Europe.

Samothrace (Acts 16:11)

Setting sail from Troas, they make a straight course to this island.

Neapolis (Acts 16:11)

The next day they land at Neapolis, on the European mainland.

Philippi (Acts 16:12–40)

The first church in Europe. Lydia and the jailer are baptized.

Imprisonment at Philippi

Paul casts a spirit of divination out of a slave girl. Her masters drag Paul and Silas to the magistrates, who have them beaten and imprisoned.

• At midnight an earthquake opens the doors.
• The jailer and all his household are baptized that same hour of the night.
• Paul refuses to be released privately: “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans … let them come themselves and bring us out.” The magistrates come and beseech them to leave the city.

Amphipolis (Acts 17:1)

West along the Via Egnatia toward Thessalonica.

Apollonia (Acts 17:1)

The next station on the road to Thessalonica.

Thessalonica (Acts 17:1–9)

Paul reasons in the synagogue for three Sabbaths. A mob sets the city in an uproar.

Founding of the Thessalonian Church

Some Jews believe, “and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.” A mob drags Paul's host, Jason, before the rulers of the city.

• The church founded here later receives 1 & 2 Thessalonians.

Beroea (Acts 17:10–15)

The Beroeans receive the word, “examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.”

The Noble Beroeans

Many believe, including Greek women of honorable estate and not a few men. When agitators arrive from Thessalonica, the brethren send Paul “to go as far as to the sea,” while Silas and Timothy stay behind.

Athens (Acts 17:15–34)

Paul addresses the philosophers at the Areopagus.

The Areopagus

Provoked by a city full of idols, Paul points to an altar inscribed “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD” and, quoting their own poets, proclaims the Creator, the coming judgment, and the resurrection. Some mock; a few believe, among them “Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris.”

He probably came by sea: the brethren had sent him “to go as far as to the sea.”

Corinth (Acts 18:1–17)

Paul stays a year and six months, making tents with Aquila and Priscilla.

Eighteen Months in Corinth

• The Lord tells him in a vision: “Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace … for I have much people in this city.”
• Brought before the proconsul Gallio, who refuses to judge questions of their own law.
• Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, is beaten before the judgment-seat.
• 1 & 2 Thessalonians are generally dated to this stay.

Cenchreae (Acts 18:18)

Sailing for Syria, “having shorn his head in Cenchreae; for he had a vow.”

Ephesus (Brief Stop) (Acts 18:19–21)

Paul promises, “I will return again unto you if God will,” and leaves Aquila and Priscilla here.

Caesarea (Acts 18:22)

Paul lands at Caesarea on the way home.

Jerusalem (Acts 18:22)

He “went up and saluted the church” — generally understood as Jerusalem.

Sail to Samothrace

Land at Neapolis

Down to the sea and on to Athens

Sail to Caesarea

Up to Greet the Church

Down to Antioch (Acts 18:22)

Paul goes down to Antioch, completing his second journey.

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