The sixth visit to Jerusalem

Paul continued from Miletus to Cos, Rhodes, Patara (Acts 21:1, in Caria and Lycia), Tyrus (Acts 21:3, in Phoenicia), Ptolemais (Acts 21:7, in Phoenicia), and Caesarea (Acts 21:8, in Samaria), reaching Jerusalem at Pentecost 54 AD (Acts 21:16). Of the Apostles, Paul only saw James the Less (Acts 21:18). Ananias (about 47-59 AD) was the high priest (Acts 23:2). Felix (48-56 AD or 52-56 AD)[1] was governing Judea (Acts 23:24) and had married Drusilla (Acts 24:24), who became his wife within the years 53-55 AD.[2] The visit occurred after an Egyptian prophet had revolted (Acts 21:38). Josephus situates this revolt during the governorship of Felix.[3]

Paul went to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus[4] during 14 years (the Greek expression dia dekatessarôn etôn, Gal 2:1), i.e. during the same 14 years as those mentioned in 2 Cor 12:2 (November 39 AD-the end of 53 AD). The repetition of the Greek adverb epeita (Gal 1:18; 2:1) makes clear that the 14 years (Gal 2:1) follow the 3 years (Gal 1:18) that occurred between Paul’s conversion and his first visit to Jerusalem (January 37 AD-November 39 AD). The Greek words dia and palin (Gal 2:1) imply that Paul went repetitiously to Jerusalem at intervals of 3 years (Gal 1:18): in the winter of 36/37 AD, in November 39 AD, in 42 AD, in 45 AD, in August 48 AD, at Pentecost 51 AD, and at Pentecost 54 AD. These visits are all refered to in Gal 1-2: Gal 1:15-16 concerns Paul’s conversion in January 37 AD; Gal 1:18-19 the first visit in November 39 AD; Gal 2:2 the revelation by Agabus (Acts 11:28), which caused Paul to go to Jerusalem in 42 AD and 45 AD; Gal 2:7-9 the visit during the Apostolic Council in August 48 AD; Gal 2:10 the contribution collected by the Galatians beginning from the visit of 51 AD and delivered in Jerusalem at the visit of Pentecost 54 AD (cf. 1 Cor 16:1-4).[5]

[1] Josephus, A.J. 20.137-138 reads, “Claudius now sent Felix, the brother of Pallas, to take charge of matters in Judaea. When he had completed the twelfth year of his reign, he granted to Agrippa [II] the tetrarchy of Philip” (trans. Feldman). Felix thus was apparently appointed before Claudius’s 12th year had ended in January 53 AD (Kienast 1996: 90), in 52 AD. Tacitus, Ann. 12.54, states that Cumanus and Felix governed contemporaneously until 52 AD: Cumanus over Galilee, and Felix over Samaria and Judea. According to Josephus, Cumanus was the Judean governor (B.J. 2.223; A.J. 20.103, 105) in about Claudius’s 8th year (A.J. 20.104, i.e. in 48 AD). Felix would have succeeded Cumanus as Judean governor (B.J. 2.247; A.J. 20.137) in 52 AD, without a preceding coregency. See Mahieu 2012: 504-505.

[2] Mahieu 2012: 505.

[3] Josephus, B.J. 2.263; A.J. 20.171.

[4] Titus was from royal offspring: A.C.E., Visionen Januar 1821, 41.

[5] Mahieu 2012: 517-521. The visit of 54 AD had not yet taken place when Gal was written, but the visit was already scheduled.

The apostolate of Paul

The sixth visit to Jerusalem