New Testament History

The fifth visit to Jerusalem and the third missionary journey

Paul sailed from Corinth’s harbour, Cenchreae, to Caesarea, halting at Ephesus (Acts 18:18-22). Paul visited “the church,” when he “went up” (the Greek participle anabas) from Caesarea and “came down” (the Greek aorist katebê) to Antioch. The verbs and the mere mention of “the church” imply that the church of Jerusalem is intended.[1] Paul thus visited Jerusalem on this occasion.

The Western and Byzantine texts of Acts 18:21 add that Paul wanted to attend a festival in Jerusalem.[2] It was the Festival of Pentecost (6 Sivan) = Friday 4 June 51 AD (Reingold and Dershowitz, and Parker and Dubberstein). Pentecost was the date of the founding of the Church (Acts 2:1), and a noteworthy feast for Paul.[3] Pentecost 51 AD was a special celebration: it was 50 years (i.e. two Roman silver jubilees of 25 years) after the end of the Pentecost war of 1 AD.[4]

Paul then went to Antioch (Acts 18:22), in June 51 AD. He left in July and travelled via Galatia and Phrygia (Acts 18:23) to Ephesus (Acts 19:1). Paul was teaching for three months in the synagogue of Ephesus (Acts 19:8). The three months likely denote a winter season (cf. Acts 20:3; 28:11; Josephus, B.J. 2.203), the winter of 51/52 AD. Paul was subsequently teaching in the school of Tyrannus at Ephesus (Acts 19:9). Paul was teaching Jews and Greeks (= Gentiles) for two years (Acts 19:10). The Jewish teaching refers to the synagogue; the Greek teaching refers to the school of Tyrannus: the two years include the three months and begin at Paul’s arrival in late 51 AD and end in about late 53 AD. Paul may have left Ephesus by the autumn of 53 AD; he certainly left after Pentecost (1 Cor 16:8).[5]

Paul travelled to Macedonia (Acts 20:1), where he arrived in the late autumn of 53 AD. He continued to Greece (Acts 20:2), where he spent three months (Acts 20:3). It was winter (1 Cor 16:6), the winter of 53/54 AD. The doublets of the three months (i.e. the winter of 51/52 AD and the winter of 53/54 AD) are linked by the two years mentioned in Acts 19:10.[6]

Paul sailed to Macedonia (Acts 20:3) in the spring of 54 AD. He was in Alexandria Troas around the time of Passover (Acts 20:5-6, in Troas). He then sailed to Assos (Acts 20:13, in Troas), Mitylene (Acts 20:14, in Aeolis), Chios, Samos, and Miletus (Acts 20:15, in Ionia). At Miletus – between Passover (Acts 20:6) and Pentecost (Acts 20:16) of the year 54 AD – he said that he had served the Lord for three (inclusive) years (Acts 20:31) since his first appearance in Asia (Acts 20:18), i.e. from May 51 AD (when halting in Ephesus) until the spring of 54 AD.[7]

Luke left Macedonia for Alexandria Troas after the Days of Unleavened Bread (Acts 20:6a, 15-12 Nisan), on 22 Nisan. He travelled during five days (Acts 20:6b) and spent seven days at Alexandria Troas (Acts 20:6c), i.e. 12 inclusive days.[8] He thus left Troas 11 non-inclusive days after 22 Nisan, on 3 Iyar. At the end of the sojourn he joined a meeting on the first day of the week (i.e. Sunday), which lasted until midnight (Acts 20:7). He left on the next day (the Greek expression tê_i epaurion, Acts 20:7), on Monday. The date of 3 Iyar 54 AD fell on a Monday, on Monday 29 April (Reingold and Dershowitz;[9] the New Moon occurred on Friday 26 April at 10:10 UT).[10]

Paul had a crucial vision 14 years before writing 2 Cor (2 Cor 12:2). The vision of 2 Cor 12:2-4 relates to the one during his first visit to Jerusalem (Acts 22:17-21). The 14 years last from November 39 AD until the end of 53 AD.[11] Paul wrote 2 Cor immediately before the winter of 53/54 AD, shortly before leaving Macedonia for Greece.[12]