A Chronology on the Life and Ministry of the Apostle Paul

By Steve LagoonMarch 20, 2012

Paul’s (Saul) Birth

• There is no hard evidence for pinpointing the year of Paul’s birth, but most estimates place it between the year 0 and 5 A.D.

Paul’s Family and Background

• Paul was a citizen of Tarsus (Acts 21:39) in southeast Asia Minor and a citizen of the Roman Empire (Acts 22:28). We know he probably was from an influential Jewish family (of the tribe of Benjamin (Phil.3:5) and had a sister and a nephew (Acts 23:16). He studied under the Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and was a member of strict sect of the Pharisees (Phil. 3:5)

Key Dates in the Founding of Christianity

• Jesus Christ was born sometime between 7 and 4 B.C. His public ministry began when he was about thirty years old (Luke 3:23) circa 26 A.D. Assuming about a three and a half year public ministry, Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension would have happened in 30 A.D. (some prefer 33 A.D.). This would also be the date (30 A.D.)for Pentecost and the birth of the Christian Church.

The Christian Church Before Paul

• At its founding, the Christian Church was centered in Jerusalem and lead by the Jewish Christian Apostles Christ chose to lead. Peter was the preeminent leader in the beginning, but later James, the half brother of Jesus took up the mantle of leadership at Jerusalem. Stephen was the first Christian Martyr and a Jew named Saul played a part in his persecution and death (Acts 8:1; 22:4).

Saul’s Conversion to Christianity

• Paul was heading to Damascus to persecute Christians when he was confronted by Jesus Christ himself and called to be an apostle for the Lord (Acts 9:1-30; 22:4-21; 26:9-20). This was about

33A.D.

Paul’s activities after conversion

• After his conversion, Paul spent time in Damascus and Nabatean Arabia (Acts 9:19-25) for about three year (A.D. 33-35), and came to Jerusalem for his first visit (35 A.D.) where he spent 15 days and met Peter and James the Lord’s brother (Acts 9:26-29; Gal. 1:18-19). Then he went to Syria and Cilicia for an extended stay (Acts 9:30; Gal. 1:21).

Paul’s activities in Cilicia and Antioch

• Paul spent roughly eight silent years in Tarsus until Barnabas sought Saul and brought him to Antioch to help the church about 43 A.D. (Acts 11:25-26).

• It is noted that Paul’s ministry in Antioch in Acts 11 apparently preceded Herod’s persecution of Peter and death in Acts 12 which is dated to A.D. 44.

Paul’s Famine Relief Visit to Jerusalem

• Acts 11:29-30 records a visit by Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to bring a gift for relief during the famine (A.D. 44). I do not believe this is the visit mentioned by Paul in Gal. 2:1-3).

Paul’s First Missionary Journey

• Acts 13:1-3 records the Church at Antioch’s commissioning of Paul and Barnabas to the first missionary journey (Acts 13:4 to 14:26) which went to Cyprus and Asia minor (A.D. 46-48).

Paul’s Letter to the Galatians

• Following the first missionary journey and shortly before the Jerusalem Council, Paul writes the letter to the Galatians from Antioch in A.D. 48 or 49. The issues Galatians addresses will be discussed at the Council and it is hard to understand why Paul makes no mention of the Council if he wrote Galatians after it.

The Jerusalem Council

• In A.D. 49, Paul and Barnabas attend the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15; Galatians 2:1-10) which was organized to deal with the problem of Jewish and Gentile relations in the church and the requirements for Gentile converts for salvation and entrance into the Christian community.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

• Paul’s second missionary journey takes place from A.D. 49-52 and revisits churches formed during the first missionary journey in Asia Minor, but then moves into Europe including Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus. Paul’s companions were Luke, Silas, and Timothy. The letters to the Thessalonians (1&2) were written from Corinth during this journey.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

• Paul’s third missionary journey took place from 52-56 and included an extended stay in Ephesus as well as revisiting the Greek churches.

• While on the third journey, Paul wrote the letters to the Corinthians (1&2) and Romans.

Paul’s Arrest to Jerusalem and Journey to Rome

• After completing the third missionary journey and bringing a gift from the Greek churches to Jerusalem, Paul is caught up in controversy and arrested, transported to Caesarea where he was under house arrest for two years (A.D. 57-59). During this period he was tried by several courts and rulers and finally appealed to Caesar and transported to Rome, and suffered in a shipwreck along the way (A.D. 59-60).

The Prison Epistles

• While Paul was in prison in Rome awaiting trial before Caesar, it is likely that he wrote the so-called prison epistles of Philippians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Colossians.

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Paul’s Release From Prison and Further Missionary Work

• It is likely that Paul was released from prison in Rome and had further ministry in the west, perhaps even as far as Spain (A.D. 61-63).

Paul’s Final Imprisonment and Martyrdom

• Paul is caught up in a wave of persecution against the Church and imprisoned in Rome, where he likely wrote the Pastoral Epistles (1&2 Timothy and Titus), and then was finally martyred by beheading in Rome around A.D. 65.