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Journey

Paul’s First Journey

Paul and Barnabas travel from Antioch in Syria to Cyprus and the cities of southern Galatia.

Map: Paul’s First Journey

Map of Paul's first journey. From Antioch in Syria the route goes by sea to Cyprus (Salamis and Paphos), then to Perga, inland to Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, and back through the same towns to Attalia and by sea to Antioch. Fifteen numbered stops.
Paul’s first journey, Acts 13–14. Dashed lines: the text says they sailed. Select the map to view it full size.

Verses: Acts 13–14 The Spread of Christianity

Regions on this map:

Sources and limits

  • The 15 numbers follow the order of Acts 13–14. A place visited twice has two numbers. Lines are not roads or sea lanes.
  • Derbe is usually placed at Kerti Höyük, from an inscription found in 1956. Not all agree, so its circle is open.
  • Acts 13–14 does not use the name Galatia. Whether Paul’s letter to the Galatians went to these towns or to towns farther north is debated.
  • Built by Bible Building Blocks from public-domain and open data: elevation from the US Geological Survey, coastlines and rivers from Natural Earth, and town points from Wikidata. Names follow the World English Bible, each checked against its verse. Shorelines are modern.

What the sources say, and how sure we are

  • The text says

    Sent from Antioch, Paul and Barnabas sail to Cyprus, then cross to Asia Minor and preach in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe before returning.Acts 13:1–14:28

  • Outside evidence

    Cyprus was a Roman senatorial province governed by a proconsul, as Acts 13:7 says.Acts 13:7

  • Debated

    The dates depend on how the Jerusalem council and the letter to the Galatians are dated. If Galatians was written to these southern cities, as many scholars hold, this journey comes just before the council.Acts 15; Gal 1–2

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