PAUL'S LETTERS · ON THE MAP · IN TIME · COMPANIONS · A STORY IN LETTERS

Paul's story

The journeys, the years, and the friends who travelled with him.

ON THE MAP

Journeys and destinations

Toggle a journey or a set of places; play a journey to draw it leg by leg.

With Barnabas, from Antioch through Cyprus to the cities of southern Asia Minor and back. Places in the order the KJV text of Acts names them; each reference is where the place is first named on that leg. Pairs that Acts names together are shown as separate stops. Ramsay dates it spring 47 to August 49; Robertson 47-48 or 48-49. Acts 13:1–14:28 [17][1]

With Silas, joined by Timothy at Lystra, across to Macedonia and Achaia. Places in the order the KJV text of Acts names them; each reference is where the place is first named on that leg. Pairs that Acts names together are shown as separate stops. Ramsay dates it spring 50 to March 53. Acts 15:36–18:22 [17][1]

The long stay at Ephesus, a return through Macedonia and Greece, and the voyage to Jerusalem with the collection. Places in the order the KJV text of Acts names them; each reference is where the place is first named on that leg. Pairs that Acts names together are shown as separate stops. Ramsay dates it June 53 to May 57. Acts 18:23–21:17 [17][1]

Paul sails as a prisoner after appealing to Caesar, is shipwrecked on Melita and reaches Rome. Places in the order the KJV text of Acts names them; each reference is where the place is first named on that leg. Pairs that Acts names together are shown as separate stops. Ramsay dates it August 59 to February 60. Acts 27:1–28:16 [17]

IN TIME

Paul's life and letters

His life on one line of years, and each letter where it was written.

The steps of Paul's life follow W. M. Ramsay's scheme of 1895 (the Chronological Index to St. Paul the Traveller); A. T. Robertson's 1915 encyclopedia scheme differs by a year or two at most points. The letters are drawn as ranges spanning the dates the sources propose. None of these years is stated in the Bible; Paul's own notes of time ("after three years", "fourteen years after") overlap and cannot simply be added together. Galatians 1:18 Galatians 2:1 2 Corinthians 12:2 Acts 20:31 [17][1]

COMPANIONS

His companions over time

The people who travelled and worked with him, and the people of the prison letters.

  • Timothy Joined Paul at Lystra; co-sender of six letters and recipient of two. my dearly beloved son Acts 16:1–3 Acts 17:14–15 Acts 19:22 +6 more
  • Silvanus (Silas) Paul's partner on the second journey; co-sender of both letters to Thessalonica. Acts 15:40 Acts 18:5 2 Corinthians 1:19 +2 more
  • Tychicus "Of Asia"; carried Ephesians and Colossians; later sent to Ephesus, and perhaps to Crete. sent to Ephesus Acts 20:4 Ephesians 6:21 Colossians 4:7 +2 more
  • Trophimus An Ephesian; left sick at Miletum. left at Miletum sick Acts 20:4 Acts 21:29 2 Timothy 4:20
  • Aristarchus A Macedonian of Thessalonica; sailed with Paul toward Rome and shared his imprisonment. my fellowprisoner Acts 19:29 Acts 20:4 Acts 27:2 +2 more
  • Mark Left Paul and Barnabas in Pamphylia, causing their split; later back at Paul's side and called "profitable to me for the ministry". departed ... then "profitable to me for the ministry" Acts 13:13 Acts 15:37–39 Colossians 4:10 +3 more
  • Luke Not named in Acts, though traditionally its "we" narrator; at the end, "only Luke is with me". only Luke is with me Colossians 4:14 Philemon 1:24 2 Timothy 4:11
  • Demas A fellowlabourer who later "forsook" Paul, "having loved this present world". fellowlabourer ... then "hath forsaken me" Colossians 4:14 Philemon 1:24 2 Timothy 4:10
  • Epaphras Founder of the church at Colossae; Paul's fellow prisoner. my fellowprisoner Colossians 1:7 Colossians 4:12 Philemon 1:23
  • Epaphroditus The Philippians' messenger. Philippians 2:25 Philippians 4:18
  • Onesimus Philemon's servant, sent back as a brother. Colossians 4:9 Philemon 1:10
  • Erastus Sent ahead into Macedonia; stayed at Corinth. abode at Corinth Acts 19:22 2 Timothy 4:20
  • Aquila and Prisca (Priscilla) Tentmakers who worked with Paul at Corinth and hosted churches in their house. Acts 18:2–3 Acts 18:18 Acts 18:26 +3 more
  • Apollos Taught at Ephesus and Corinth; still travelling in Titus. Acts 18:24 1 Corinthians 3:6 Titus 3:13
  • Titus Never named in Acts; Paul's partner with Corinth, left in Crete, later gone to Dalmatia. gone to Dalmatia Galatians 2:3 2 Corinthians 8:23 2 Timothy 4:10 +1 more
  • Alexander An opponent; whether the Alexanders of Acts and the letters are one man is not known. did me much evil Acts 19:33 1 Timothy 1:20 2 Timothy 4:14
  • Onesiphorus Sought Paul out in Rome and was not ashamed of his chain. oft refreshed me 2 Timothy 1:16 2 Timothy 4:19

The people who travelled and worked with Paul, traced through Acts, the prison letters and the pastoral letters. Two stories turn: Demas, once a fellowlabourer, leaves him for "this present world", while Mark, who once walked out, comes back to be called "profitable", the same word Paul used of Onesimus. Acts 13:13 Acts 15:37–39 Philemon 1:11 2 Timothy 4:10–11

A STORY IN LETTERS

The story of Onesimus

A runaway sent home with a letter, from Paul's prison to Philemon's house.

  • 1 Onesimus parts from his master Philemon, perhaps owing him something
  • 2 He meets the imprisoned Paul and becomes a believer: "my son ... begotten in my bonds"
  • 3 Paul would have kept him as a helper, but will not act without Philemon's consent
  • 4 Paul sends him back with Tychicus, "a brother beloved", to be received "as myself"
  • 5 Paul signs a promise to repay any debt
  • 6 Paul expects Philemon to do more than he asks, and asks for a lodging

Two letters tell one story from two sides: to the church at Colossae Onesimus is "a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you"; to his master he is "my son". Lightfoot called Tychicus the link between Ephesians and Colossians, and Onesimus the link between Colossians and Philemon. The letter never says he ran away or stole, and how the story ended is not known. Colossians 4:9 Philemon 1:10 [20]

WHERE THIS PAGE COMES FROM

  • A. T. Robertson, Paul, the Apostle (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), parts 1 (Sources), 3 (Chronology of Paul's Career), 4 (Equipment) and 5 (Work); checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • H. C. G. Moule, Romans, Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • R. Dykes Shaw, Corinthians, First Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • R. Dykes Shaw, Corinthians, Second Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • George G. Findlay, Galatians, Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Rollin Hough Walker, Thessalonians, the First Epistle of Paul to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Rollin Hough Walker, Thessalonians, the Second Epistle of Paul to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Charles Smith Lewis, Ephesians, Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Charles Smith Lewis, Colossians, Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Charles Smith Lewis, Philemon, Epistle to (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Doremus Almy Hayes, Philippians, the Epistle to the (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • John Rutherfurd, Pastoral Epistles (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • E. J. Banks, Colossae (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • M. G. Easton, Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), entries on each letter, its city and Paul's companions.
  • W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, vol. 1 (first published 1852) (1864), New York printing, pp. 333-337 (Thessalonica) and 415-416 (Corinth).
  • W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, new edition (first published 1852) (1891), chs. XXV-XXVII.
  • W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen (1895), Chronological Index; ch. 5, Foundation of the Churches of Galatia.
  • J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians (1865), Introduction II-III (pp. 20, 36-40); note on Gal 6:11 (pp. 220-221).
  • J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians, 4th ed. (1878), pp. 30-46, 69, 74-77, 95-99, 138-142.
  • J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (1875), Introduction ch. I-II; The Epistle from Laodicea (pp. 340-366); Philemon introduction (pp. 369-395).
  • Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, vol. 1: Apostolic Christianity (revised ed.) (1890), sections 88-99.
  • John Calvin (trans. William Pringle), Commentary on Galatians (1548) (1854), on Gal 2:1.
  • Clement of Rome (trans. J. B. Lightfoot), 1 Clement (1891), 5:5-7; 35:5-6; 47:1-3.
  • Clement of Rome (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1), 1 Clement (1885), ch. 5.
  • Ignatius (trans. J. B. Lightfoot), To the Ephesians (1891), 18:1.
  • Ignatius (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1), To the Ephesians (1885), chs. 1 and 12.
  • Polycarp (trans. J. B. Lightfoot), To the Philippians (1891), 2:2; 3:3; 5:1; 6:1-2; 11:2-4.
  • Polycarp (trans. Roberts and Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Christian Library), Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians (1867), chs. 3, 4, 9, 11, 12.
  • Irenaeus (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1), Against Heresies (1885), I preface; III.3.3; III.7; III.13-16; IV.21.2; V.2.3; V.6.1; V.25.1.
  • Clement of Alexandria (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 2), Stromata (1885), I.14.
  • Tertullian (trans. Peter Holmes, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 3), Against Marcion, book 5 (1885), chs. 2-21.
  • Unknown (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5), The Muratorian Fragment (Canon Muratorianus) (1886).
  • Eusebius (trans. A. C. McGiffert, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 1), Church History (1890), II.22; II.25.5; III.3.5; III.4.
  • Suetonius (trans. J. C. Rolfe), Life of Claudius (1914), 25.4.
  • Ernst Ranke (ed.), Codex Fuldensis: Novum Testamentum Latine interprete Hieronymo (1868), Latin prologues to the Pauline letters (manuscript copied about AD 546).

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