paul's travel to rome map

Map of the Apostle Paul's Voyage to Rome 61-62 A.D. View Interactive Map

The Bible Also Mentions A Lot Concerning "Asia"

Paul’s Journey to Rome

Appealing his case to Caesar, Paul was ordered by Festus to be transferred to Rome. Paul’s journey was marked by difficult weather, as they had begun their voyage late into the season for sea travel. A bad decision to try to find winter harbor at Phoenix ended with the ship being driven by a storm to the island of Malta, where the ship broke apart. All aboard the ship survived, however, and Paul was soon placed aboard another ship that took him to Puteoli. From there Paul was taken to Rome.

Map of Paul's journey to Rome

Around 59 A.D. and 60 A.D., Paul the evangelist was taken as a prisoner from Caeserea to Rome, making several stops along the way. Even as a prisoner, he continued to evangelize. This journey is described in the Bible's book of Acts, chapters 26, 27 and 28. Click on any of the map markers and more information about that place will pop up.

Source: Research by About-Jesus.org

Interactive Bible maps:

• Places where Jesus performed miracles

• Places that Jesus visited

• Paul's 1st mission journey

• Paul's 2nd mission journey

• Paul's 3rd mission journey

• Paul's journey to Rome

• Seven churches in Revelation

• Bible places map

• List of interactive maps

About Jesus

About Christianity

About the Bible

Interactive Bible maps

Other items

Search a pre-defined list

The Whole Bible The Old Testament The New Testament ────────────── Pentateuch Historical Books Poetical Books Wisdom Literature Prophets Major Prophets Minor Prophets ────────────── The Gospels Luke-Acts Pauline Epistles General Epistles Johannine Writings ────────────── Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation

OR Select a range of biblical books

Select a Beginning Point Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation

Select an Ending Point Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation

OR Custom Selection:

Use semicolons to separate groups: 'Gen;Jdg;Psa-Mal' or 'Rom 3-12;Mat 1:15;Mat 5:12-22'

Click to Change

Return to Top

ESV Global Study Bible :: Paul’s Journey to Rome

Paul's Journey to Rome

Appealing his case to Caesar, Paul was ordered by Festus to be transferred to Rome. Paul's journey was marked by difficult weather, as they had begun their voyage late into the season for sea travel. A bad decision to try to find winter harbor at Phoenix ended with the ship being driven by a storm to the island of Malta, where the ship broke apart. All aboard the ship survived, however, and Paul was soon placed aboard another ship that took him to Puteoli. From there Paul was taken to Rome.

The ESV Global Study Bible Copyright © 2012 by Crossway . All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Search Results in Other Versions

Search results by book, blb searches, search the bible.

Advanced Options

There are options set in 'Advanced Options'

Theological FAQs

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval

* 'Number Delimiters' only apply to 'Paragraph Order'

Let's Connect

Daily devotionals.

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

• BLB Daily Promises
• Day by Day by Grace
• Morning and Evening
• Faith's Checkbook
• Daily Bible Reading

Daily Bible Reading Plans

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

• Chronological
• Old Testament and New Testament Together

Two-Year Plan

• Canonical Five Day Plan

Recently Popular Pages

• H3068 - Yᵊhōvâ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)
• Hoekstra's Day by Day by Grace
• O.T. Names of God - Study Resources
• We Receive as we Give by C. H. Spurgeon
• David Guzik :: Hechos 9 – La Conversión de Saulo de Tarso
• H8319 - šāraq - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)
• ESV Global Study Bible Footnotes :: Act 28
• H8316 - śᵊrēp̄â - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)
• H8318 - šereṣ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)

Recently Popular Media

• Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus and the Holy Trinity (Walter Martin)
• Who Is Jesus Christ? (Tony Clark)
• Meeting Mormon Missionaries (Walter Martin)
• James 3:1-12 (Chuck Missler)
• A Godly Woman Is a Happy Woman (Elisabeth Elliot)
• Come and See Pt. 1 (Tony Clark)
• John 7 - Thirsty? Come and Drink (Chuck Missler)
• Acts 3-4 (1982-85 Audio) (Chuck Smith)
• Revelation 1 (1982-85 Audio) (Chuck Smith)
• James 3-5 (1982-85 Audio) (Chuck Smith)

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.

Blue Letter Bible

Login to your account.

Email / username or password was incorrect!

Check your email for password retrieval

 Keep me logged in!

Did you forget your password?

Register a new BLB account

Complete the form below to register  [?]

Error: That Email is already registered

Error: Please provide a valid Email

Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters

Error: Passwords do not match

Error: Please provide a valid first name

Error: That username is already taken

Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores

← Login to Your Account

Passwords should have at least 6 characters. Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores.

Thank you for registering. A verification email has been sent to the address you provided.

Did You Know BLB Is User Supported?

Your partnership makes all we do possible. Would you prayerfully consider a gift of support today?

Cookie Notice: Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details.

Old Testament

New testament.

Bible Pearls

Did you know that....

The Holy Spirit is one of the most misinterpreted concepts of the Bible. Different denominations of Christianity have different definitions for it.

But, who or what is the Holy Spirit? And is it male or female in the Bible? Is it the third God of the Trinity? Today you can finally learn the truth about this apparently confusing issue.

If you would like to know who or what the Holy Spirit truly is in the Bible and solve this problem, check out our article on this topic in our Bible Articles section, you will find it very interesting.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Related articles you might like.

Paul's First Missionary Journey Map

Paul's Second Missionary Journey Map

Paul's Third Missionary Journey Map

Paul's Journey to Rome Map

Timeline of Paul's Letters and Missionary Journeys Chart

If You Found This Helpful, Please Share. Thanks!

ConformingToJesus Ministry - Copyright © 2014-2024. All Rights Reserved

• Map, Paul sails for Rome and prison

Acts 27:1-12 . Map – Jerusalem to Rome. Paul shipped to Rome – August AD59 – February AD60.

Paul’s trip as a prisoner is shown in this map (a map of the Mediterranean).

Now after the Fast , in the reading below means after the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), September-October late, with the Equinox 21 September, and implies winter and the associated storm winds that come at this time year.

The storm blew them into a bay in the southeastern corner of Malta, which has a beach and a reef where two seas meet in rough weather.

Background Reading:

Paul sails for rome and prison.

27:1 When it was decided that we should sail to Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were transferred to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the emperor’s division. 2 After boarding a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to the ports on the coast of Asia, we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, went with us.

3 The next day, we arrived at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul kindly allowing him to visit his friends there and to receive any care he needed. 4 After putting out from there, we sailed on the sheltered side of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 We sailed along the sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia and reached Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on it. 7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and with difficulty arrived off Cnidus. Then, because the wind was against us, we sailed on the sheltered side of Crete off Cape Salome. 8 Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9 Much time had been lost, and because navigation had become dangerous and the day of fasting had already past, Paul began to warn those on the ship, 10 “Men, I see that during this voyage there will be hardship and a heavy loss not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives.”

11 But the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship and not by what Paul said. 12 Since the harbor was not a good place to spend the winter, most of the men favored putting out to sea from there on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix and spend the winter there. It is a Cretian harbor that faces southwest and northwest. Acts 27:1-12

After the Fast e.g. the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) September-October late Autumn. Equinox winds about September 21st. read: Acts 27:13-44 about the storm and the shipwreck.

Other slides in this module:

• Next 43 Years of the Book of Acts, Acts 18:23
• Next 4 years of the Book of Acts, Acts 18:23-21:18
• Books Burn, Paul is in Ephesus, Acts 19:18-20
• Look in a Mirror, Paul writes to the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
• Satan as an Angel of Light, Paul writes to the Corinthians, 2nd Corinthians 2:5-11 and 11:14
• Paul writes the book of Romans
• Idol or the Golden Calf
• Paul arrested and put in Chains
• First of several trials for Paul
• Paul before the High Priest Ananias and the Sanhedrin
• Second Trial for Paul, this time before Felix
• Paul’s third trial in front of Felix
• Paul’s fourth trial was in front of Festus
• Festus consults with King Herod Agrippa 2
• Paul before King Agrippa for his fifth trial
• Paul, a prisoner, sails for Rome in chains
• Paul and the Snakebite ashore on Malta
• Paul heals the people on the island of Malta
• Paul under house arrest is still preaching
• Gospel of Luke
• Roman Soldier, The Armour of God
• Comeback, Paul’s plea for Onesimus
• Epaphras took a letter to the city of Colossae
• Run the race
• Map, Paul’s 5th trip which was after the book of Acts was written
• Rome burns, 19 July AD64
• Kiss of Love
• Scribe, Paul’s Letter To Titus
• Paul writes to Timothy a second time
• Victor’s Crown
• The book of Hebrews
• Moses leads God’s people
• Crossing the Red Sea
• Paul back in jail or prison again in Rome
• The Book of Jude
• Jerusalem is destroyed 2nd September AD70
• John on the Island of Patmos
• Eight Characteristics of Jesus
• The Holy City, the New Jerusalem
• Jesus Reigns
• AD96 the end of the book of Revelation and the continuation of the Christian church
• Questions and Answers 1-14
• Questions and Answers 15-28
• Questions and Answers 29-43
• Timeline for Acts part two
• Resources: Acts part one and two
• Next Module » »

A Pictorial explanation of the Bible

A quick guide to St. Paul’s travels according to today’s map

Ephesus Foundation USA

A comprehensive map of all the journeys taken by St. Paul in his lifetime is yet to be completed . But what we know for sure is that Paul, who used to be called by his Jewish name Saul of Tarsus before converting to Christianity, spent about 30 years sailing around the Mediterranean basin and visiting what were considered to be the major cities of his time.

Sources disagree on an exact list of locations that Paul visited during his lifetime, but what’s sure is that during the three journeys described in Acts 13-14 , Acts 15-17 and Acts 18-20 he visited many historical cities that are considered the backbone of Western civilization. From Athens to Corinth, passing through Antioch and Ephesus, here is a summary of Paul’s travels , including an indication of where those locations are on today’s map. 

What’s considered Paul’s “first journey” started in the year 45 and ended in 49 . Together with Barnabas, a Cypriot Jew converted to Christianity, Paul traveled across the island of Cyprus, Barnabas’s homeland, preaching the Gospel in several synagogues. They then set sail from Paphos, on the southwest coast of Cyprus, and reached the port of Perga, in Anatolia, modern-day Turkey.

From Perga they finally reached Antioch of Pisidia, where Paul began to spread the word to the local Jewish community. Initially, his message was very well received, leading to an invitation to speak during Sabbath (the holy day), but part of the community soon turned envious about the strong popularity enjoyed by a foreign preacher and eventually managed to push Paul out of the city.

Paul and Barnabas then left for Konya, a city just south of Ankara, in present-day Turkey, but were forced to leave again, this time for the nearby town of Lystra. Here Paul healed a sick man and the local pagan community began to believe he was sent by God. But soon enough, the same people who contested him in Konya reached Lystra and instigated a group of locals to stone Paul, forcing him to flee. He then reached the city of Derbe, also in modern-day Turkey, and from there back to Lystra, Konya and finally Antioch of Syria on the Orontes, a city of ancient Syria now in modern-day Turkey, where his journey originated. Here Paul reports that, through his message, many pagans got to know the word of God.

Second trip

Paul’s second journey started in the year 49 and ended in 52 . This time, Paul hit the road to check back on those early Christian communities he helped found during his first trip.

He was accompanied by Silas, a leading member of the early Christian community, and Timothy, the son of a Greek man who was a dear companion to Paul. The group headed to Lystra, then through Phrygia, an ancient kingdom on the Sangarios River in modern day Turkey; then to Galatia, an area in the highlands of central Anatolia, also in present-day Turkey, that was inhabited by Gallic people of the Hellenistic period, and finally to Troad, a city in north-west Anatolia, present-day Turkey.

Here, Paul had a vision of a man asking him to bring the Gospel to Macedonia , and then set off to reach the European mainland for the first time. By way of Samothrace, a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea, and Neapolis, known today as the Greek city of Kavala, they reached Philippi, a Roman city in the first district of Macedonia, which today stands as one of Greece’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Here, Paul was hosted by Lydia, a woman who worked as a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira. But soon enough, a group of hostile locals pushed authorities to arrest Paul and his companions. However, thanks to a providential earthquake, the group managed to escape Philippi’s jail. Eventually, local magistrates learned that Paul and his travel companions were Roman citizens and officially let them free. The Philippian community soon grew to become an important Christian center, to which Paul later addressed the  Epistle of Paul to the Philippians.

After Philippi, the group reached Thessaloniki, in present-day northern Greece, where they were hosted by Jason, a Jewish man who had converted to Christianity. Here, even if his mission was somehow successful, Paul was quickly forced to leave after a group of local Jews reported his evangelization activities to local pagan authorities.

They then left for Berea, an important port city, now known as Veria, in Macedonia, north of Greece, but the same group that kicked them out of Thessaloniki soon caught up with them and pushed them to leave Berea as well.

The group hit the road once again and reached Athens, which had been severely damaged by Roman attacks in 146 B.C. but was still considered the capital of philosophy and knowledge of what was then the known world. Here Paul engaged in conversation with many public intellectuals in both synagogues and public squares and was eventually invited to give a speech to Athenian citizens from the Aeropago , a marble hill just above the Acropolis. According to Luke (Act 17, 11-33) it is here that Paul proclaimed his famous speech about “the Unknown God” to to the pagan thinkers of Athens.

From Athens, Paul headed to Corinth, capital of the Roman province of Acaia in present-day south-central Greece. Here he stayed with the married Christian couple Priscilla and Aquila , who had been exiled by the Roman emperor Claudius in 49-50. In Corinth Paul engaged in prolific speeches that led to many conversions, but he was subject to hostility from groups of local Jews. However, Roman pro-consul Gallio adopted a neutral stance regarding Paul religious mission and decided to let him free.

Together with Priscilla and Aquila, Paul set sail for Syria and reached Ephesus and from here Caesarea, in modern day north-central Israel, and eventually back to Antioch.

Third journey

Paul’s third journey took place between 52 and 57 . He first headed back to Galatia and Phrygia to check on the communities he helped set up during his previous trips. He then set sail for Ephesus , an ancient Greek city in present-day Turkey, which at the time was the capital of the Roman province of Asia and home to the famous temple of Artemis-Diana, which was considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Here Paul baptized 12 disciples who had previously received a penitential baptism by John the Baptist, and together with companions he helped evangelize nearly all the local inhabitants.

After a winter break in Corinth, Paul headed back to Ephesus , but hostility from local Jews forced him to leave for Antioch, Syria. From here he departed for more Greek cities—including the islands of Lesbos and Samos—and reaches Miletus, in modern-day Turkey.  

Here he pronounced his famous speech dedicated to the “Ephesian elders, ” in which he recommended that the leaders of the communities he helped found take on his mission and preserve the values of vigilance, disinterest and charity. In 58, Paul decided to head toward Jerusalem , so he set off on an arduous sailing trip that made stops at a new harbor almost each day, including the islands of Kos and Rhodes in modern-day Greece. He finally reached Jerusalem where he stayed with Mnason of Cyprus, one of the people he helped convert on one of his early trips.

Paul then visited James, who advised him to talk to the most traditionalist Jews at the Temple. Here Paul was recognized by the Jews of Asian provinces, and once again faced hostility. Claudius Lysias, the local Roman tribune, intervened and put Paul in jail before even knowing that he is a Roman citizen. This was the start of what many refer to as the “Passion Pauli,” in which St. Paul’s dedication to his evangelization mission led to his arrest, beating, torture, and eventual death in Rome at the order of Emperor Nero in 62-64.

Make sure to visit the slideshow below to discover some of the greatest works of art representing the Road to Damascus, the decisive moment in the life of Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. 

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

Author: Ron Graham

simplybible.com

Paul’s Journeys —Missionary journeys and journey to Rome

Our study of the places in the book of Acts requires a supplemental summary of the journeys and periods of the apostle Paul.

Traditionally, Paul is said to have made three missionary journeys, plus a fourth journey to Rome. In the Acts Facts series, I have retained this traditional manner of dividing up Paul’s several journeys recorded in the book of Acts. This enables you to more easily relate our studies with other studies, references, and maps, which most likely adhere to the same scheme.

The four journeys of Paul are...

• 1st missionary journey (Acts 13:4 to 15:35).
• 2nd missionary journey (Acts 15:36 to 18:22).
• 3rd missionary journey (Acts 18:23 to 21:17).
• Journey to Rome (Acts 27:1 to 28:16).

The first two journeys start and end in Syrian Antioch. The third journey starts in Antioch and ends in Jerusalem. Starting from Jerusalem, the fourth journey ends in Rome. See also Paul's trips to Jerusalem .

A After Paul’s Conversion

In Acts 9, Luke records the period between Paul’s conversion and his first missionary journey. In this period Paul was known as Saul. Paul himself speaks of this period in Acts 22 and 26, as well as Galatians 1:13-17. Putting information from all these sources together, we find the following activities between Paul’s conversion and first missionary journey.

• After his conversion in Damascus, Paul very nearly lost his life (Acts 9:19-25).
• During three years that followed, Paul spent some time in Arabia. After that, Paul returned to Damascus for the remainder of the three years (Galatians 1:11-18).
• Paul then came to Jerusalem where he was assisted by Barnabas. Again his life was threatened, so he went home to Tarsus (Galatians 1:18-24, Acts 9:26-30).
• Paul next went to Antoch in Syria. From there, he was sent down to Judea with aid for the brethren in need because of famine (Acts 11:19-30).
• Paul and Barnabas then returned to Syrian Antioch (Acts 12:25).
• At Antioch, Paul and Barnabas are called to embark on what is known as the 1st missionary journey (Acts 13:1-3).

B The 1st Missionary Journey

• From Antioch’s seaport Selucia, they sail to Cyprus, and work throughout the island (Acts 13:4-12).
• Next they go to Pamphylia and the other Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:13-52). .
• They went down to Lycaonia, working in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 14:1-23).
• Passing through Pisidia and Pamphylia again, they then worked in Perga (Acts 14:24).
• They went down to Attalia and caught a ship back to Syrian Antioch (Acts 14:25-27).

C Period in Syrian Antioch

• Between the 1st and 2nd missionary journeys there was "a long time" in Antioch in Syria (Acts 14:28).
• During this period, Paul, Barnabas, and other companions had to go up to Jerusalem to attend a council of the apostles regarding the issue of Christians keeping the law of Moses (Acts 15:1-29).
• Paul returned to Antioch and worked there a while (Acts 15:30-35).

D The 2nd Missionary Journey

• Paul chose Silas and embarked on a journey that began by revisiting the places tPaul had worked on his 1st journey (Acts 15:36-41).
• They worked in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium. Timothy joined Paul and Silas.
• Paul, with Silas and Timothy, went through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia, then on to Troas (Acts 16:1-8)
• Paul received a vision calling him to Macedonia (Acts 16:9-40, 17:1-14).
• Paul went down to Achaia and worked in Athens (Acts 17:15-34).
• After Athens he went to work in Corinth where he met Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1-17).
• From Corinth Paul went to Ephesus (Acts 18:18-21).
• He took a ship to Caesarea, visiting the church there, then went back to Syrian Antioch (Acts 18:21-22).

E The 3rd Missionary Journey

• After a time in Antioch, Paul set off again and visited with the churches again in Galatia and Phrygia (Acts 18:23)
• Paul next returned to Ephesus where his work caused an uproar (Acts 19:1-41).
• Paul then revisited Macedonia and Greece, and came to Troas and after that to Miletus (Acts 20:1-38).
• From Miletus Paul sailed to Caesarea and then went to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-17).

F Period in Jerusalem and Caesarea

• In Jerusalem Paul had a meeting with James and the elders (Acts 21:18-26).
• Paul was caused trouble by the Jews (Acts 21:27-40).
• Paul told his story publicly and nearly got flogged (Acts 28).
• Paul went on trial and is escorted to Caesarea (Acts 23:1-35).
• He was imprisoned in Caesarea and goes before Felix (Acts 24)
• When he appeared before Festus he appealed to Caesar (Acts 25).
• Paul next appeared before Agrippa (Acts 26).

G Journey to Rome

• Paul sails for Rome under escort. On the way, he is shipwrecked (Acts 27)
• His journey from Malta to Rome (Acts 28:1-15).
• His house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:16-31).

➤ DONATE

to simplybible.com Webservant Ron Graham

Home | Bible Topics | The Hub | List | Next www.simplybible.com Copyright © Ron Graham 2005

Paul’s Journeys

The apostle Paul traveled extensively throughout the Roman Empire to spread the teachings of Jesus. He spread the gospel for seven years across thousands of miles. What does archaeology tell us about the places he visited? Why did he stay in Corinth and Ephesus? Why did he take a treacherous route through Anatolia? What was travel like in Paul’s time? Why did Paul travel so far west–and did he also evangelize east in Arabia? BAS editors have compiled BAR and Bible Review articles that explore the cities, roads and peoples Paul encountered on his journey through the first-century Mediterranean.

Scroll down to read a summary of these articles.

Paul embarked on numerous sea voyages in a time when many people looked upon boat trips as almost certain death. He walked for days on roads roamed by villains and wild animals and ravaged by severe weather. In “On the Road and on the Sea with St. Paul,” Father Jerome Murphy-O’Connor describes in detail what life was like for a traveler in the first century A.D.

The apostle Paul took his preaching “on the road” for about seven years. For three of those years, he really moved around–spending only a month or two in each city, just long enough to establish a church. But for nearly four years he did not journey at all. He stayed in Corinth for approximately 18 months, and in Ephesus for more than two-and-a-half years. Did Paul change his outreach strategy? Dan P. Cole explains in “Corinth & Ephesus–Why Did Paul Spend Half His Journeys in These Cities?”

What were these cities like? About 50 A.D., when the apostle Paul arrived in Corinth on the isthmus connecting mainland Greece with the Peloponnese, he found a prosperous commercial city undergoing major remodeling projects b expert architects, builders and artisans. The elegant remains of Greek and Roman Corinth have been revealed by 100 years of careful excavations. In “Corinth in Paul’s Time–What Can Archaeology Tell Us?” Victor Paul Furnish displays the roads, shops, temples and artifacts that Paul saw and examines how they help us to understand better what Paul said and how he lived.

Paul’s first missionary journey took him from Cyprus into the heart of Anatolia. Why did Paul and Barnabas choose the treacherous path through Perga to Pisidian Antioch? In “Why Perga: Paul’s Perlious Passage Through Pisidia,” Mark R. Fairchild explores archaeological evidence for the likely presence of Jewish communities on the way.

The Jewish diaspora in Roman times and Late Antiquity was not just a scattering of people from the Land of Israel. In “Why Paul Went West,” Doron Mendels explores geographical, cultural, religious and language differences in two distinct diasporas–western and eastern–that help explain why Paul went west from Jerusalem.

Paul also mentions his journey to “Arabia”–probably today’s Jordan–only in passing in the New Testament. But why was he there? Jerome Murphy-O’Connor solves the mystery of “What Was Paul Doing in Arabia?”

Explore the BAS Library for more articles on the spread of Christianity.

About Paul’s missionary journeys to the west much has been written. But almost nothing has been said of his trip to Arabia. No wonder; it is barely mentioned, almost as an aside, in Galatians 1:17: “I went away into Arabia, and again I returned to Damascus.”

In the Acts of the Apostles, we are told that Paul made three missionary journeys. In almost every introduction to the New Testament I have seen, the author discusses St. Paul’s journeys in terms of places and dates; his concern is to establish the location of the cities Paul visited and to fix the […]

Paul’s three missionary “journeys” form a standard feature in New Testament maps and histories. The impression that emerges from the account in Acts of the Apostles 1–21 in the New Testament is that Paul three times set out from Antioch in Syria on a succession of missionary “journeys,” during which he preached and founded […]

On his first visit, Paul came to Corinth from Athens. He apparently stayed in Corinth a year and a half, teaching the word of his god and baptizing believers (Acts 18:1, 8, 11). According to Acts, it was in Corinth that Paul, after his preaching was rejected by the Jews, first turned to the […]

“Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos [in Cyprus] and came to Perga in Pamphylia [in southern Anatolia] …They passed on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia [in central Anatolia].” (Acts 13:13–14) Why Perga? Paul and Barnabas returned to Perga (Greek, Perge) where Paul preached (“spoke the word”) and then […]

The Jewish diaspora in Roman times and Late Antiquity was not just a scattering of people from the Land of Israel. Geographical, cultural, religious and language differences resulted in two distinct diasporas—western and eastern—which helps explain why Paul went west from Jerusalem.

Maps: The journeys of Paul

Download story: maps: the journeys of paul.

Choose the file type and the file format:

Apple Keynote

Download Story Planner: Maps: The journeys of Paul

A free Story Planner PDF can be downloaded. It shows the images with a short description of what is happening in each scene. You can print this and add your own notes.

Choose your language:

• These maps are the copyright of Chris and Jenifer Taylor of The Bible Journey who have granted FreeBibleimages permission to distribute them using a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License .
• Individual maps can be used in educational presentations, web articles, blogs and social media with attribution to www.thebiblejourney.org .
• These images cannot be sold under any circumstances or used in any format for commercial gain.
• You cannot redistribute this set of maps online but you can create a link to the relevant page on www.thebiblejourney.org or FreeBibleimages.org to allow others to download these images under the same Terms of Download.
• These maps are not to be used in any context where the accompanying message is undermining of the Christian faith and gospel.

We are a team of Christians creating a visual journey through the Bible as a resource for teaching all ages – available for free download by anyone, anywhere at any time. FreeBibleimages is a UK registered charity (1150890).

Terms of image use

All images are free for you to use in teaching. Conditions on the reuse of the images are defined in the Terms of Download for any set. View our Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

News updates

View all our latest news and developments on the FreeBibleimages Project Update page.

Free newsletter

Be the first to know when new stories go online by signing up for our free newsletter. Our privacy policy explains how we guard your details.

E [email protected] W www.freebibleimages.org

If you are having trouble accessing or downloading files please explore our Help pages where you can find tips and tutorials. There are also videos to help you.

• All Bible Maps
• Heart Messages
• Roman Roads
• Archaeology

Map of Paul's Voyage to Rome (61 A.D.)

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Unearth the rich tapestry of biblical history with our extensive collection of over 1000 meticulously curated Bible Maps and Images . Enhance your understanding of scripture and embark on a journey through the lands and events of the Bible.

• Ancient city layouts
• Historic routes of biblical figures
• Architectural wonders of the Holy Land
• Key moments in biblical history

Start Your Journey Today!

Click here to access our Bible Maps and Images

Table of Contents

About bible geography, about bible maps, ancient empire maps, bible map collections, bible map series, biblical map projects, geographical maps, interactive bible maps, intertestamental color maps, new testament color maps, new testament maps, old testament color maps, old testament maps.

Apostle Paul's Final Missionary Journey Map

In the Spring of the year, in Rome, the apostle Paul is acquitted of the charges against him and is set free. He sails from Rome to the island of Crete in order to meet with Titus (Titus 1:5). He then leaves Titus in Crete and sails to Nicopolis (Titus 1:5, 3:12). From Nicopolis he writes the New Testament books of 1Timothy and Titus.

63 A.D. to 67 A.D.

Paul continues his mission of spreading the gospel by traveling to Spain. In the winter of 57 A.D. He writes to the church at Rome regarding his planned travel to this western part of the empire.

For this reason also, I have been hindered many times from coming to you (the believers in Rome Paul had never visited). But now, there being no place in these regions that has not heard the gospel, and having a great desire to come to you for many years whenever I may go to Spain, I will come to you because I hope to see you while passing through Rome . . . Therefore, when I have finished this task (delivering aid to poor saints in Jerusalem), and have safely delivered into their hands the fruit that was collected, I will set off toward Spain and will come to you (Romans 15:22 - 24, 28, HBFV).

There is also evidence, though not conclusive, that Paul also preached the gospel in Britain (Britannia).

68 A.D. (January or February)

Paul is likely arrested and imprisoned in Rome in the early part of 68 A.D. In the spring he writes his last book, 2Timothy, addressed to his greatest friend ( Life and Epistles of St. Paul , appendix III).

Paul is beheaded, under Roman Emperor Nero, around May or June. His death occurs just before Nero's suicide on June 9, 68 A.D. in Greece. He is about 66 years old.

Nero is the first emperor of the Roman Empire to actively persecute and kill Christians. Rome will carry out at least ten major efforts to exterminate Christians and expunge Christianity from the empire. The persecutions first start under Nero in 67 A.D. and continue until 313.

Paul's impact on Christianity will be enormous. During his ministry he wrote fourteen books of the Bible and carried out no less than five missionary journeys. He paid a price, however, for his strong devotion to God and the truth by spending a total of five of his ministry years in prison. He remained faithful to the very end of his life.

How to go to Heaven

How to get right with god.

What happened on Paul’s voyage to Rome?

For further study, related articles, subscribe to the, question of the week.

Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox!

• Today's Issues
• Bible Study
• Kids Korner
• Everyday Living
• Characters & Topics

Romans 15:23-28 New International Version

Paul’s plan to visit rome.

23  But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, ( A ) 24  I plan to do so when I go to Spain. ( B ) I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist ( C ) me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25  Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem ( D ) in the service ( E ) of the Lord’s people ( F ) there. 26  For Macedonia ( G ) and Achaia ( H ) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. ( I ) 27  They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. ( J ) 28  So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain ( K ) and visit you on the way.

Cross references

• Romans 15:23 : Ac 19:21; Ro 1:10, 11
• Romans 15:24 : ver 28
• Romans 15:24 : 1Co 16:6; Tit 3:13
• Romans 15:25 : S Ac 19:21
• Romans 15:25 : S Ac 24:17
• Romans 15:25 : S Ac 9:13
• Romans 15:26 : S Ac 16:9
• Romans 15:26 : S Ac 18:12
• Romans 15:26 : S Ac 24:17
• Romans 15:27 : 1Co 9:11
• Romans 15:28 : ver 24

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

More on the NIV

• Unleash God's Word!

Bible Gateway Recommends