Paul the Apostle Timeline

Although much information is provided about Paul’s missions in the Bible, it does not cover his death. In AD 64, there was heavy persecution of Christians. They were often beheaded during Nero’s reign. Dr. William Smith supports this idea in Smith’s Bible Dictionary, stating that many testimonies point towards beheading as the most likely way in which died.

Paul the Apostle Timeline in Biblical History

AD 5 Approximate year of birth of Saul of Tarsus (now eastern Turkey). Saul was born to an Israelite family who came from a tribe of Benjamin. He is a Roman citizen who is also referred to as Paul. – Philippians 3:5
   
AD 15-20 Saul trains with Gamaliel I at the Pharisaic Rabbinical school to become a Pharisee. – Acts 22:3; 26:5; Galatians 1:14
   
AD 30 Paul begin persecuting the Christian Church found in Jerusalem. He brings them to jail and calls for them to be stoned to death if found guilty of “blasphemy”. – Acts 8:1-3; Acts 26:10
   
AD 32 Paul witnesses the stoning of Stephen, an apostle of Jesus Christ. – Acts 7:58
   
AD 33 Paul journeys to Damascus. He hears the voice of Jesus and is blinded on his way to Damascus to persecute more Christians. He does not eat or drink for three days. A disciple named Ananias has a vision from Jesus and visits Saul to restore his sight. – Acts 9:1-19; Acts 22:6-21; Acts 26:12-18.
  Paul makes his way to Arabia and lives there for three years. – 2 Corinthians 11:32; Galatians 1:17
   
AD 36 Paul travels to Damascus once again but is forced to flee due to persecution. He returns to Damascus then exits the city for safety. – Galatians 1:17; Acts 9:20-25; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33
   
AD 37 Paul leaves for Jerusalem and meets the other Apostles. – Acts 9:26-29; Galatians 1:18
   
AD 38–44 Paul stays in Tarsus and areas nearby, preaching Jesus’ teachings. – Acts 9:30
   
AD 44–46 Barnabas, a Cypriot Jew, visits Paul and they both preach in Antioch.
   
AD 47 Agabus, a Christian follower, foresees a famine in Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas coordinate to send supplies to Jerusalem. – Acts 11:29-30
  They both return to Antioch with John Mark, one of the Apostles of Jesus.
  Paul and Barnabas are told by the Holy Spirit to to start their missionary journey. – Acts 13:2-3
   
AD 48 Paul and Barnabas start their first missionary journey, traveling to Cyprus. While there, they preach at Salamis and Paphos. – Acts 13:5-12
  They leave for Perga of Pamphylia. This is where John Mark returns home – Acts 13:13
  Paul and Barnabas go to preach in Antioch of Pisidia. – Acts 13:14-50
  The pair visited Iconium but in fear of being stoned, they left for Lystra where Paul is able to heal a crippled man. The people who witnessed the miracle attempted to worship them as if they were gods. – Acts 14:6-7
  The Jews found them and stoned them. Paul’s lifeless body was supposedly brought out of Lystra, but both he and Barnabas were able to go back to the city alive. They left for Derbe the next day and preach the gospel there. – Acts 14:20-21
  The pair retrace their steps, going back to Lystra, Iconium, and reaching Antioch. They established ministries in the places they had visited before. – Acts 14:21-24
  Paul and Barnabas return to Syrian Antioch. – Acts 14:26
   
AD 49 Paul and Barnabas join and meet the Council at Jerusalem. – Acts 15:1-29; Galatians 2:1
  After the meeting, Paul told Barnabas that they were to revisit their growing Christians Churches. They are to embark on Paul’s second missionary journey. However, Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark along; but Paul was against the idea. – Acts 15:36-39
  Consequently, Barnabas went with John Mark to Cyprus while Paul went with Silas to Syria and Cilicia. – Acts 15:36-39, 41
   
AD 50 Paul and Silas travel to Derbe and Lystra. Timothy accompanies them. They strengthen the ministry in these areas. – Acts 16:1-5
AD 51 Paul, Silas, and Timothy continue in their renewing of Christian faith journeying to Troas, Neapolis, Philippi, Amphipolis, and Apollonia. – Acts 16:1-5; Acts 17:1
  Paul, Silas, and Timothy reached Macedonia. Their first convert in Europe was Lydia, who was a slave girl who they saved from a demon. This act had them put in jail; however, Paul and Silas were able to convert the keeper of the prison. – Acts 16:16-25
  They left Philippi and went to Thessalonica. They once again had to escape due to the commotion their presence had upon the Jews there.
   
AD 52 The group went to Berea where Silas and Timothy chose to stay. Paul left for Athens and then Corinth where they all reunited. – Acts 17:10-14; Acts 18:1-17
   
AD 53 Paul goes back to Antioch before his third missionary journey. – Acts 18:18-22
  He embarks on his third missionary journey. He starts with Galatia and Phrygia.
   
AD 54-55 Paul heads to Ephesus and baptizes a few followers there. He then starts a ministry in the area.
   
AD 56 Paul strengthens the ministries in Macedonia, Greece, Troas, Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, and Trogyllium, Miletus, Cos, Rhodes, Patara, Phoenicia, Tyre, Ptolemais, and Caesarea. – Acts 20:1-38; Acts 21: 1-14
   
AD 57 Paul is able to return to Jerusalem. He has a conflict with Jews at a Temple. He is placed in prison for preaching. His citizenship as a Roman saved him; they were about to scourge him. – Act 22:25-26
  Paul was taken to speak in front of the Sanhedrin, an assembly of Jewish leading scholars that formed an official council. – Acts 22:30 – 23:10
  The Jews plot to kill Paul. – Act 23:12-22
  The Lord tells Paul he will be his witness in Rome. – Act 23:11
  While he is imprisoned Paul spoke with many leaders who will decide his fate. He first goes before Felix, the governor of Judea and Samaria. – Acts 24
  Paul next faces Festus who replaces Felix. – Acts 25
  After this, Paul is before King Agrippa. He is sent to Rome. – Acts 26:1-29
   
AD 60 Paul reaches Rome. He calls on the chief of the Jews and speaks to them. He is safe in Malta where he has a home and preaches without conflicts. – Acts 28:30-31
   
AD 62 Paul is released from Roman captivity. He continues on his missionary work.
   
AD 67 or 68 Paul dies possibly as a martyr during the time of Emperor Nero.