New Testament History

The first missionary journey

Paul and Barnabas returned from Jerusalem to Antioch (in Syria) in 45 AD, taking John Mark with them (Acts 12:25).[1] Paul and Barnabas were elected for a mission (Acts 13:2) and were imposed hands (Acts 13:3). From then on Saul was called Paul (Acts 13:9). Luke joined them. They set sail from Antioch’s port, Seleucia, to Cyprus (Acts 13:4). Paul and Barnabas were at Cyprus 12 years after the crucifixion,[2] 33 AD-45 AD. After having crossed the entire island, they went to Perga (Acts 13:13, in Pamphylia). It was the start of a new sailing season, the spring of 46 AD, 1 year after the visit to Jerusalem in 45 AD. Paul and Barnabas did not stay for long at Cyprus;[3] they stayed beginning from somewhere in the year 45 AD until the spring of 46 AD.[4]

Paul and Barnabas continued from Perga to Antioch (Acts 13:14, in Pisidia), Iconium (Acts 13:51, on the border of Phrygia and Lycaonia), Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 14:6, in Lycaonia). They then returned to Lystra, Iconium, Antioch (Acts 14:21), and Perga (Acts 14:25), and sailed from Attalia (in Pamphylia) to Syria (Acts 14:26). Since they took a ship, they reached Syria when the sailing season was open, in the spring of 47 AD. The missions in Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia took 1 year, from the spring of 46 AD until the spring of 47 AD.[5]