Paul's Missionary Journeys
Paul's Second Missionary Journey Acts 15:36–18:22

General Timeline : AD 49-52

Distance : 2800 miles

Churches Planted : Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and Corinth

Travelers : Paul, Silas, Timothy, Priscilla and Aquilla, Luke

Main Route : Syria, Turkey, Greece, Jerusalem

Paul and Silas revisited the places in Asia Minor where Paul had preached on his first journey (cf. map), while Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul and Silas visited Derbe, Lystra, and Antioch in Pisidia. From there Paul and Silas traveled to Troas, where Paul received a vision of a man from Macedonia calling to them. Crossing into Europe, they passed through several towns along the Egnatian Way and traveled to the cities of Athens and Corinth in southern Greece. Then, sailing to Ephesus and Caesarea, they visited the church in Jerusalem before returning to Antioch of Syria.

Courtesy: https://bethanygu.edu
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Cities Visited in Chronological Order

Antioch, Syria Acts 15:35

Paul and Barnabas decide to visit the churches again, but disagree about who should go with them. Paul doesn’t want to take John Mark because he left them on their first trip. Barnabas takes John Mark with him to Cyprus; Paul takes Silas.

Syria and Cilicia Acts 15:41

Syria and Cilicia

Derbe, Lystra and Iconium - Southern Galatia Acts 16:1-5

While visiting these churches, Timothy joins them.

Troas, Asia (region of Mysia) Acts 16:7–10

While in this seaport, Paul has a vision of a man from Macedonia calling him to come help them. Acts 16:10 uses the word “we,” indicating that Luke was with Paul.

Samothrace, Thrace and Neapolis, Macedonia Acts 16:11

Paul and company made a sea voyage to Samothrace and from there to Neapolis

Philippi, Macedonia Acts 16:12–40

Lydia, a wealthy businesswoman, is converted in the Macedonian city of Philippi, and the group stays in her house. When a fortune-telling slave girl is converted, her owners start a riot, and Paul and Silas are thrown in jail. In the middle of the night, as they are singing, there is an earthquake and their chains fall off. The jailer is converted. When the magistrate discovers Paul and Silas are Roman citizens, he apologizes and they are escorted out of town.

Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica (Macedonia) Acts 17:1–9

Jews in Thessalonica try to have Paul and Silas arrested after they gain some converts

Berea, Macedonia Acts 17:10–14

The people in the synagogue receive the message eagerly. Silas and Timothy stay here while Paul goes on.

Athens (Mars Hill, or Areopagus) Acts 17:15–32

Paul sees an altar to an unknown god, and preaches to the thinkers of Athens. A number of them believe.

Corinth, Achaia Acts 18:1–17

Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla, who join him. People try to get Paul arrested, but the authorities refuse. He writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians here.

Cenchreae, Achaia Acts 18:18

Paul gets his hair cut because he had taken a vow (Acts 18:18). No more details are given.

Ephesus, Asia Acts 18:19–21

Paul leaves Priscilla and Aquila here

Caesarea (Syria), Jerusalem, Antioch (Syria) Acts 18:22

Paul and his companions finall wrap up the second missionary journey and return to the home church at Antioch, Syria.