Land

Mediterranean World

The Roman world of the Gospels and Acts, from Judea and Syria to Macedonia, Achaia, and Rome.

What the sources say, and how sure we are

The text says
Acts follows the gospel from Jerusalem through Syria, Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Achaia to Rome. Macedonia (northern Greece) includes Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, and Achaia (southern Greece) includes Athens and Corinth.Acts 16–18; Acts 19:21
Outside evidence
Roman roads and sea lanes linked the region. The Via Egnatia crossed Macedonia from east to west, and Paul’s route in Acts 17:1 follows it. Inscriptions at Delphi, Thessalonica, and Corinth confirm details of Acts.Gallio Inscription; Politarch Inscription; Erastus Inscription
Debated
Scholars sometimes differ on the details of Paul’s routes, including how he travelled between cities and where he landed after sea voyages.Acts 17:14–15

Antioch on the OrontesThe Syrian city where believers were first called Christians and Paul’s journeys began.
AthensThe cultural center of Greece, where Paul spoke to the Areopagus.
CorinthA Roman colony in the province of Achaia, on the narrow Isthmus between two seas, where Paul stayed a year and six months and later wrote to the church.
EphesusThe great port city of Asia where Paul stayed three years and one of the seven churches of Revelation.
PhilippiA Roman colony in Macedonia and the first European city where Paul preached.
RomeThe capital of the empire, where Paul was taken and where the early church grew.
ThessalonicaThe capital of Macedonia and a major port on the Via Egnatia.

Books set here, or sent here, with the verse that ties them to this place.