What Cities Did Paul Visit on His Missionary Journeys?
Quick Summary
The Apostle Paul visited dozens of cities during his missionary journeys recorded in the Book of Acts and his epistles. From Antioch and Ephesus to Philippi and Rome, each city played a unique role in the growth of early Christianity. This article lists and explains the significance of the key cities Paul traveled to during his three major journeys—and his final trip to Rome.
Introduction
Paul’s missionary journeys were not random road trips. They were carefully planned ventures fueled by prayer, calling, and opportunity. He traveled through modern-day Turkey, Greece, Syria, and Italy, planting churches, preaching the gospel, and raising up new leaders. The cities he visited were not only strategic for their geography but also spiritually significant for the growth of the early church.
By walking through the major cities of Paul's journeys, we get a better sense of the world in which the gospel first took root and how the apostle shaped its spread across the Roman Empire.
Major Cities Visited on Paul’s Missionary Journeys
1. Antioch (Acts 11:26; 13:1–3)
Antioch in Syria served as Paul’s home base for his missionary efforts. It was here that believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). Paul was commissioned from Antioch for his first two journeys, and it was a diverse, vibrant city key to early Christian identity.
2. Seleucia (Acts 13:4)
This port city served as Paul’s launching point on his first journey. It was located west of Antioch on the Mediterranean Sea.
3. Salamis and Paphos – Cyprus (Acts 13:5–13)
Paul and Barnabas first preached in Salamis and then traveled to Paphos, where Paul confronted the magician Elymas. This marked the first recorded miracle of Paul’s ministry.
4. Perga and Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:13–52)
Perga, in modern Turkey, was a stopping point before Paul traveled inland to Antioch in Pisidia, where he gave a major synagogue sermon. The city’s name may confuse readers with Syrian Antioch—this one was in Galatia.
5. Iconium, Lystra, Derbe (Acts 14:1–23)
These cities in the Roman province of Galatia formed the backbone of Paul’s first journey. In Lystra, Paul healed a crippled man and was mistaken for a god. He was later stoned and left for dead.
6. Philippi (Acts 16:12–40)
On his second journey, Paul crossed into Europe and preached in Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia. Lydia was converted here, and Paul and Silas were jailed before a miraculous earthquake freed them. Philippi became a strong, supportive church.
7. Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17:1–15)
Thessalonica was a major city in Macedonia where Paul preached for three Sabbaths before facing opposition. Berea was known for its open-minded listeners who examined Scripture daily.
8. Athens (Acts 17:16–34)
Paul’s address at the Areopagus in Athens is one of his most famous speeches, where he spoke about the “unknown god” and used local philosophy to point to the gospel.
9. Corinth (Acts 18:1–17)
Paul spent 18 months in Corinth, a wealthy, diverse city known for its immorality. The church he founded there struggled with many issues but also received some of Paul’s most extensive teaching.
10. Ephesus (Acts 19:1–41)
Ephesus was a major city in Asia Minor where Paul spent three years. It became a central hub for Christian teaching and experienced spiritual revival and conflict with idol makers.
11. Troas (Acts 20:6–12)
Here Paul raised Eutychus from the dead after a long night of preaching. Troas was a port city that played a recurring role in Paul’s travels.
12. Miletus (Acts 20:17–38)
Paul met with the Ephesian elders in Miletus and gave an emotional farewell, knowing he would likely never see them again.
13. Caesarea Maritima (Acts 21:8–14; 23:23–35)
Paul returned to Caesarea several times. It’s where the prophet Agabus warned him about Jerusalem, and where Paul was later imprisoned and gave his defense before Roman officials.
14. Jerusalem (Acts 21:15–36)
Paul’s return to Jerusalem led to his arrest, sparking his long legal ordeal. He was nearly killed by a mob but rescued by Roman soldiers.
15. Rome (Acts 28:11–31)
The Book of Acts ends with Paul under house arrest in Rome, boldly preaching the gospel. Though technically a prisoner, he had freedom to receive visitors and teach. Rome represents both the climax of his journeys and a launching point for the gospel’s future.
Other Cities Mentioned in Paul’s Letters
In addition to cities visited in Acts, Paul references other places in his epistles:
Colossae – Though Paul never visited, he wrote a letter to them (Colossians).
Laodicea – Mentioned in Colossians 4:16.
Crete – Titus was left here to establish church leadership (Titus 1:5).
Spain – Paul hoped to travel there (Romans 15:24).
Map and Travel Routes
Paul’s journeys followed major Roman roads and trade routes. His three missionary journeys and final trip to Rome can be traced as follows:
First Journey – Acts 13–14: Antioch → Cyprus → southern Galatia → Antioch
Second Journey – Acts 15:36–18:22: Syria → Galatia → Macedonia → Greece → Jerusalem
Third Journey – Acts 18:23–21:14: Antioch → Galatia → Ephesus → Macedonia → Greece → Jerusalem
Journey to Rome – Acts 27–28: Caesarea → Malta → Rome
Why It Matters
Paul’s travels were not just about moving from one city to another. Each stop became a seedbed for Christian community. The people he met, the sermons he preached, and the letters he wrote built the theological and pastoral foundation of the early church. Understanding the geography of Paul’s journeys helps us appreciate the intentional and Spirit-led nature of his mission.
