Paul's second journey: the gospel reaches Europe
After a sharp disagreement with Barnabas over John Mark, Paul set out with Silas, was joined by Timothy and Luke, and, called by a vision of a man of Macedonia, crossed into Europe: Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth.
A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him and saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.”
Acts 16:9 (World English Bible)
Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus, and Paul took Silas overland through Syria and Cilicia. Blocked by the Spirit from preaching in Asia and Bithynia, they reached Troas, where Paul saw the vision. Luke's account shifts from “they” to “we” at this point (Acts 16:10), suggesting that he joined them there.
The journey ended with a year and a half in Corinth and a brief stop at Ephesus before Paul returned to Jerusalem and Antioch.
Places
JerusalemMacedoniaAsiaEphesusAntiochCaesareaCorinthAchaiaThessalonicaCiliciaSyriaAthensBereaGalatiaIconiumLystraTroasDerbePhilippiAreopagusPhrygiaBithyniaCenchreaeMysiaAmphipolisApolloniaNeapolisSamothrace
Dating notes
Ussher: AD 53–56. Dates for Paul's journeys follow the conventional chronology, anchored by an inscription at Delphi, found in 1905, that dates Gallio's term as proconsul of Achaia (Acts 18:12) to AD 51–52; Ussher, who could not have known it, runs two to three years later.