Paul: Chronological Table

Paul: Chronological Table

A Chronological Table of Paul’s Life and Ministry

Year

Contemporary Events

44 BC

Julius Caesar Assassinated

4 BC

Birth of Jesus Christ

2 BC

Birth of Paul (Saul of Tarsus)

6

Herod Archelaus deposed by Augustus; Samaria, Judea and Idumea placed under Roman administration, capital, Caesarea

7

Quirinius: Governor (legatus) of Syria, 1st Roman tax census of Judaea. He appoints Ananus ben Seth as High Priest.

8

Jesus (age 12) at the Temple

9

M. Ambivius: Roman Prefect of Judaea

12

Annius Rufus: Roman Prefect of Judaea

14

TIBERIUS becomes emperor.

15

Valerius Gratus: Roman Prefect of Judaea

18

Joseph Caiaphas: High Priest of Jerusalem Temple, appointed by Valerius Gratus

26

Pontius Pilate: Roman Prefect of Judaea

27

John the Baptist begins ministry

33

John the Baptist killed by Herod Antipas

33-36

Jesus’ Ministry

36

Paul’s Conversion

37

Marcellus: Roman Prefect of Judaea

37

Paul at Damascus

CALIGULA (Gaius Augustus Caesar) becomes emperor (37 to 41), upon the death of TIBERIUS.

37

Herod Agrippa I: king of tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias

38

Flight from Damascus to Jerusalem, then to Tarsus

39

Herod Antipas exiled to Gaul on charges of secret alliance with Parthians. Caligula gives his tetrarchy (Galilee) to Herod Agrippa.

40

Paul goes to Jerusalem to meet with Peter [Gal 1:18-20]

41

CLAUDIUS becomes emperor (41 to 54), upon the death of CALIGULA.

39 to 43

Paul preaches in Syria and Cilicia, making his headquarters in Tarsus.

Judea and Samaria given to Herod Agrippa I.
Invasion of Britain by Aulus Plautius.

44

Paul brought from Tarsus to Antioch; stays there one year before the famine. James brother of John executed by Herod Agrippa.

Death of Herod Agrippa I. Cuspius Fadus, procurator, succeeds to the government of Judea.

45

Paul visits Jerusalem with Barnabas to relieve the famine.

46

At Antioch.

Tiberius Alexander made procurator of Judea.

47

At Antioch

48

First Missionary Journey (Paul and Barnabas) - from Antioch to Cyprus, Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe

Agrippa II (Acts 25) made king of Chalcis.

49

… and back through the same places to Antioch

Cumanus made procurator of Judea

50

Paul and Barnabas attend the Council of Jerusalem

Caractacus captured by Romans in Britain; Cogdinus, father of Claudia (? 2 Tim. 4:21) assists the Romans in Britain.

51

Second Missionary Journey - from Antioch to Cilicia, Lycaonia, Galatia

52

… Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth (writes 1 Thessalonians)

Claudius expels the Jews from Rome (Acts 18:2).

53

At Corinth; writes 2 Thessalonians

Tetrarchy of Trachonitis given to Agrippa II; Felix procurator.

54

Spring: leaves Corinth and reaches Jerusalem at Pentecost; goes to Antioch
Autumn:
Third Missionary Journey - goes to Ephesus.

NERO becomes emperor (54-68), upon the death of CLAUDIUS (who was poisoned by his wife, Agrippina).

55, 56

Paul at Ephesus

57

Spring: writes 1 Corinthians
Summer: leaves Ephesus for Macedonia where he writes 2Corinthians in Autumn.
Winter: goes to Corinth, writes Galatians

58

Spring: writes Romans, leaves Corinth, going by Philippi and Miletus to …
Summer: …Jerusalem at Pentecost. He is arrested and sent to Caesarea.

59

At Caesarea

Nero murders his mother, Agrippina

60

Autumn: Sent to Rome by Festus
Winter: Shipwrecked at Malta

Felix is recalled and is succeeded by Festus

61

Spring: Arrives at Rome

Embassy of Jews comes from Jerusalem to petition about the wall.

62

At Rome.
Spring: Writes Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians
Autumn: Writes Philippians.

Burrus dies; Albinus succeeds Festus as procurator of Judea; Nero marries Poppaea.

63

Paul acquitted at Rome; goes to Macedonia and Asia Minor

Daughter Claudia born to Poppaea

64

Paul goes to Spain (?)

Great fire at Rome; Roman Christians blamed and persecuted by Nero.

65

In Spain (?)

Gessius Florus made procurator of Judea; conspiracy of Piso and death of Seneca.

66

Summer: from Spain (?) to Asia

Jewish War begins.

67

Summer: Writes 1Timothy from Macedonia
Autumn: Writes Titus from Ephesus.
Winter: At Nicopolis

68

Spring: In prison at Rome, writes 2Timothy
Summer: Paul executed at Nero’s orders.

Death of Nero in middle of June. GALBA becomes emperor (68 to 69)

Sources: Cornelius Tacitus, The Annals of Imperial Rome and Agricola

Conybeare, W. J. and Howson, J. S., The Life and Epistles of St. Paul