Chronology of the NT (part 2) - Life of Paul
Introduction. The book of Acts is a history of the early church. It begins with the foundation laid in Jerusalem and ends with Paul in Rome and the church reaching out to the ends of the earth. The scope of Acts had been revealed by Jesus in His final words: “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). Luke described his methods of writing in his “former account:” “having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, (NAS) to write to write an orderly account for you” (Acts 1:1; 1:3 ESV). Like Moses when writing Genesis, Luke was not an eyewitness of the events he recorded. He was an inspired historian. First, he interviewed the eye witnesses, and then with the Holy Spirit guiding him, he left this orderly account.
The kingdom of God started in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2-4; Mk 9:1) on the day of Pentecost about fifty days after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. In part 1, we noted the difficulties regarding the year of Jesus Christ’s birth. So for our purposes, Acts begins between the years of 30 or 33 AD and ends with Paul in imprisonment in Rome from 61-63 AD. Thus Acts spans a period of 28-33 years. Although still imprecise, we can’t find what isn’t there. The Holy Spirit did not give precise dates. So we must be content to match events in Acts with the secular history that is available.
Historians have gathered documents and artifacts that match four events described in Acts. These secular dates give us a rough time line. These secular documents reveal that Herod died in 44 AD, Gallio was in Corinth in 52-53, Felix was recalled to Rome in 59-60, and Jerusalem was destroyed in 70. With these four historical dates the events recorded in Acts fall into place in this way:
Year: | 30-33 | 44 | 52-53 | 60 | 63 | 70 |
Event: | Church | Herod’s | Gallio in | Felix leaves | Paul in | Jerusalem |
| Begins | Death | Corinth | Caesarea | Rome | Destroyed |
Duration: | 11-14 years | 8 years | 6-7 years | 4-5 years | 7 years |
Acts ch.: | 1-12 | 13-18 | 19-24 | 25-28 |
It is now a simple matter to fit what the Holy Spirit revealed about Paul’s life into this time period and gain a more precise and Scriptural understanding. Paul’s conversion and the events surrounding his life offer inspired truth about the duration of the events in his early life (Acts 9-15).
Paul was baptized in Damascus by Ananias as recorded in Acts 9. It was 3 years after he became a Christian that he returned to Jerusalem where he stayed with Peter for 15 days. As the Jews sought to kill him, Jesus sent him away (Acts 9:20-26; 22:17-21). In Paul’s own inspired words, it was fourteen years from his conversion until he returned to Jerusalem as recorded in Acts 15.
Knowing that it was 14 years from the time of Paul’s conversion (Acts 9) until he came to Jerusalem (Acts 15) helps us determine the year of Paul’s conversion. Since we know Herod died in 44 and we can estimate that Paul’s journey in Acts 13-14 was about 3-4 years, Paul would have been baptized about 10 years prior to Herod’s death. This places Paul’s conversion about 34-35 AD. Since Peter’s sermon was preached in 30 - 33 AD, Paul would have been converted 2 to 5 years later. This means that Luke’s orderly account of all that occurred in Acts 1-8 fits into a 2-to-5 year period.
The discussion in Jerusalem over Gentile conversion occurred about 46 AD. Paul then took Silas and Timothy on his second journey. All that Paul did in Acts 16-18 spans a period of between 6 and 8 years and ended soon after Gallio came to Corinth (52-53 AD). During this time, Paul journeyed to the provinces of Lycaonia, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Phrygia and Galatia. It would also include the churches started in Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea) and those in Achaia (Athens and Corinth).
Paul left Corinth in 52-53 AD, and Felix was recalled in 59-60 AD. Hence Acts 19-24 occurred between 53 and 60 AD, spanning a period of 6-7 years. This is when Paul returned to Jerusalem, visited all the churches that had already been established, and preached 2-3 years in Ephesus. It also covers the year in Macedonia, gathering the collection for the needy saints in Jerusalem, and his journey from Macedonia to Jerusalem. Paul then spent 2 years in prison in Caesarea which covers 59-60 AD, six months traveling to Rome along with 2 years in prison in Rome (61-63 AD). The book of Acts is then complete. Only 7 years remained until the Jewish nation ended when Jerusalem was destroyed.
Luke also gives us the information to chart Paul’s the time from his captivity in Caesarea to his time in Rome.
Conclusion. All that remains to fully understand Luke’s inspired “orderly account” is to fit the letters Paul wrote into the history of his life. This is not difficult since most of the books have details that can be compared with events recorded in Acts. This will be the subject of our next article (part 3).
The kingdom of God started in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2-4; Mk 9:1) on the day of Pentecost about fifty days after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. In part 1, we noted the difficulties regarding the year of Jesus Christ’s birth. So for our purposes, Acts begins between the years of 30 or 33 AD and ends with Paul in imprisonment in Rome from 61-63 AD. Thus Acts spans a period of 28-33 years. Although still imprecise, we can’t find what isn’t there. The Holy Spirit did not give precise dates. So we must be content to match events in Acts with the secular history that is available.
Historians have gathered documents and artifacts that match four events described in Acts. These secular dates give us a rough time line. These secular documents reveal that Herod died in 44 AD, Gallio was in Corinth in 52-53, Felix was recalled to Rome in 59-60, and Jerusalem was destroyed in 70. With these four historical dates the events recorded in Acts fall into place in this way:
Year: | 30-33 | 44 | 52-53 | 60 | 63 | 70 |
Event: | Church | Herod’s | Gallio in | Felix leaves | Paul in | Jerusalem |
| Begins | Death | Corinth | Caesarea | Rome | Destroyed |
Duration: | 11-14 years | 8 years | 6-7 years | 4-5 years | 7 years |
Acts ch.: | 1-12 | 13-18 | 19-24 | 25-28 |
It is now a simple matter to fit what the Holy Spirit revealed about Paul’s life into this time period and gain a more precise and Scriptural understanding. Paul’s conversion and the events surrounding his life offer inspired truth about the duration of the events in his early life (Acts 9-15).
- 15 ... it pleased God ... 16 to reveal His Son in me, ... 17 I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. ... 21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ... 2:1 ... Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. (Gal. 1:15-2:5)
Paul was baptized in Damascus by Ananias as recorded in Acts 9. It was 3 years after he became a Christian that he returned to Jerusalem where he stayed with Peter for 15 days. As the Jews sought to kill him, Jesus sent him away (Acts 9:20-26; 22:17-21). In Paul’s own inspired words, it was fourteen years from his conversion until he returned to Jerusalem as recorded in Acts 15.
Knowing that it was 14 years from the time of Paul’s conversion (Acts 9) until he came to Jerusalem (Acts 15) helps us determine the year of Paul’s conversion. Since we know Herod died in 44 and we can estimate that Paul’s journey in Acts 13-14 was about 3-4 years, Paul would have been baptized about 10 years prior to Herod’s death. This places Paul’s conversion about 34-35 AD. Since Peter’s sermon was preached in 30 - 33 AD, Paul would have been converted 2 to 5 years later. This means that Luke’s orderly account of all that occurred in Acts 1-8 fits into a 2-to-5 year period.
- Acts 2 Day of Pentecost 30-33 Acts 11:25 Barnabas seeks for Saul 41-42
- Acts 9 Paul’s conversion 34-35 Acts 11:26 They work in Antioch 42-43
- Acts 9 Paul’s return to Jerusalem 37-38 Acts 11:27 Benevolence to Judea 43
- Acts 9 Paul works in Syria/Cilicia 38-39 Acts 13 Paul begins his work 44
The discussion in Jerusalem over Gentile conversion occurred about 46 AD. Paul then took Silas and Timothy on his second journey. All that Paul did in Acts 16-18 spans a period of between 6 and 8 years and ended soon after Gallio came to Corinth (52-53 AD). During this time, Paul journeyed to the provinces of Lycaonia, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Phrygia and Galatia. It would also include the churches started in Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea) and those in Achaia (Athens and Corinth).
Paul left Corinth in 52-53 AD, and Felix was recalled in 59-60 AD. Hence Acts 19-24 occurred between 53 and 60 AD, spanning a period of 6-7 years. This is when Paul returned to Jerusalem, visited all the churches that had already been established, and preached 2-3 years in Ephesus. It also covers the year in Macedonia, gathering the collection for the needy saints in Jerusalem, and his journey from Macedonia to Jerusalem. Paul then spent 2 years in prison in Caesarea which covers 59-60 AD, six months traveling to Rome along with 2 years in prison in Rome (61-63 AD). The book of Acts is then complete. Only 7 years remained until the Jewish nation ended when Jerusalem was destroyed.
- Acts 15 Discussion in Jerusalem 46 Acts 27-28 Rome 61-63
- Acts 16-18 Second Journey 46-52 1Tim./Titus Paul freed 63-66
- Acts 19-24 Third Journey 53-59 2Tim/Paul Executed 67
- Acts 25-26 Caesarea 59-60 Jerusalem Destroyed 70
Luke also gives us the information to chart Paul’s the time from his captivity in Caesarea to his time in Rome.
- Acts 20:16 58 Paul sought to arrive at Jerusalem before Pentecost (June/July)
- Acts 24:27 60 Paul was 2 years in Caesarea.
- Acts27:8-9 60 Much time spent in Fair Havens – fast (day of atonement – 7th month 10th day – October).
- Acts 27:27 60 Driven by the storm 14 days
- Acts 28:11 61 After three months
- Acts 28: 61 Multiple travel days (vs. 12, 13, 14); Rome (:28); 3 days (:28); appointed day (:23)
- Acts 28:30 63 Two whole years
Conclusion. All that remains to fully understand Luke’s inspired “orderly account” is to fit the letters Paul wrote into the history of his life. This is not difficult since most of the books have details that can be compared with events recorded in Acts. This will be the subject of our next article (part 3).