Acts 9–28 · the letters
The journeys of Paul
A persecutor of the Christians becomes their greatest apostle. On foot and by ship he takes the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome, and he writes letters we still read today.
From persecutor to apostle
Saul wants to wipe out the Christians. Then he meets Jesus himself.
Step 1 of 5: Saul looks on
Saul looks on
When Stephen is stoned, the witnesses lay their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. He approves, and then begins to persecute the church, going from house to house.
Saul did not like the Christians at all. He wanted to put them all in prison.
The journeys on the map
Choose a journey. The red line follows Paul from city to city, as Acts tells it.
Barnabas and Paul are sent out by the church in Antioch: across Cyprus to the interior of Asia Minor, and back the same way.
Acts 13:1–52Antioch (Syria)
The Spirit says: ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul.’
Paul and Barnabas set off.
Letters by city
Each letter sits at the place it was sent to. Choose a letter: where and when Paul wrote it, what it is about, and when he was there himself.
Romans
The great overview of the gospel: all have sinned, and all are made right with God through faith in Christ. From Corinth, c. AD 57, before he had been to Rome himself.
Er is dan nu geen veroordeling voor wie in Christus Jezus zijn.
Do you remember?
Six questions about Paul.
6 questions about the story. Each answer shows where you can read it.
Questions people ask
Honest, also where Christians think differently.
Did Paul write all thirteen letters?
Zeven brieven worden door bijna iedereen aan Paulus toegeschreven: Romeinen, 1 en 2 Korintiërs, Galaten, Filippenzen, 1 Tessalonicenzen en Filemon. Over Efeziërs, Kolossenzen, 2 Tessalonicenzen en de brieven aan Timoteüs en Titus twijfelt een deel van de geleerden. De kerk heeft ze altijd als brieven van Paulus gelezen, en ze staan alle dertien in de Bijbel.
How certain are the routes on the map?
Handelingen noemt de steden; de wegen ertussen zijn een reconstructie, langs Romeinse wegen en scheepsroutes. De jaartallen zijn bij benadering; een inscriptie in Delphi over de proconsul Gallio (Handelingen 18:12) helpt om de tweede reis rond 50–52 te dateren.
How did Paul die?
Handelingen eindigt met Paulus twee jaar onder huisarrest in Rome. Volgens oude christelijke bronnen (zoals Clemens van Rome en Eusebius) werd hij later onder keizer Nero in Rome onthoofd, rond 64–67.