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Journey

Paul’s Third Journey

Paul spends about three years in Ephesus, revisits Macedonia and Greece, and returns to Jerusalem with a collection.

Map: Paul’s Third Journey

Map of Paul's third journey. A dotted line runs from Antioch in Syria across Asia Minor to Ephesus, on to Macedonia and Greece (Corinth, an open circle), back through Philippi and Troas, down the coast by Assos, Mitylene, Samos and Miletus, past Cos, Rhodes and Patara, and by sea to Tyre, Ptolemais, Caesarea and Jerusalem.
Paul’s third journey, Acts 18:23–21:17. Dotted lines: the text names regions, not towns. Select the map to view it full size.

Verses: Acts 18:23–21:17 The Spread of Christianity

Regions on this map:

Sources and limits

  • Acts 20:2–3 says Paul came into Greece and stayed three months, but names no town. Corinth is the usual understanding, so its circle is open.
  • Trogyllium (Acts 20:15) is in the World English Bible, but the oldest Greek manuscripts leave it out, and its exact spot is not known. Its position is ours.
  • Where the text names only regions (Acts 18:23; 19:1; 20:1–3), the way is not known and the line is dotted.
  • 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.
Teaching slide on Paul in Ephesus, where new believers burn their books of magic and a riot breaks out in the theater, with Acts 19:19–20 and a summary.
Teaching slide. Scripture is quoted from the Berean Standard Bible, a public-domain translation. The artwork is an illustrated reconstruction, not a photograph. Select the image to view it full size.
Teaching slide on Paul returning to Jerusalem, where he is arrested and claims his Roman citizenship, with Acts 21:13 and a summary.
Teaching slide. Scripture is quoted from the King James Version, a public-domain translation. The artwork is an illustrated reconstruction, not a photograph. Select the image to view it full size.

What the sources say, and how sure we are

  • The text says

    Paul stays in Ephesus about three years, passes through Macedonia to Greece, spends three months there, and sails back via Troas, Miletus, Tyre, and Caesarea to Jerusalem.Acts 19:8–10; Acts 20:31; Acts 20:1–3; Acts 21:1–17

  • Outside evidence

    Ephesus has been excavated, including its great theatre and the site of the temple of Artemis. Inscriptions use the title “temple keeper” for the city, as Acts 19:35 does.Acts 19:23–41; Acts 19:35

  • Debated

    Paul’s letters mention imprisonments and hardships not told in Acts, and some scholars propose a stay in prison at Ephesus during this period.2 Cor 11:23; 1 Cor 15:32

Books

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