Outline of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
—Much farther afield
This is our second study on the journeys of Paul. We look at Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 15:36 to 18:22).
On the first journey, Barnabas had been Paul's main companion. On this second missionary journey, he chooses Silas for that role. Paul and Barnabas had intended to go together, but they disagreed about taking John Mark with them.
John had quit the first missionary journey early (Acts 13:13) apparently to Paul's great displeasure. To resolve the matter, Barnabas took John Mark with him and they sailed to Cyprus, while Paul took Silas with him, and they started north over land.
1. Paul and Silas leave Syrian Antioch. They travel through Syria and into Cilicia (Acts 15:36-41).
2. They worked in Derbe and Lystra, where Timothy was recruited to join them. They travel on to Iconium. In these cities they have success in strengthening the disciples and making new converts (Acts 16:1-5).
3. They pass through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit would not let them go to Asia. In Mysia the Spirit changed their plans again and sent them to Troas (Acts 16:6-8).
4. They were now far out of the territory covered by the first journey. But they were to be called further yet. Paul received a vision calling him to Macedonia (Acts 16:9-12).
5. In Philippi they convert Lydia (Acts 16:13-15).
6. They cure a slave girl of her evil spirit and are thrown into prison (Acts 16:16-24).
7. Their jailer is converted (Acts 16:25-34).
8. They are released from prison with some embarrassment to the authorities (Acts 16:35-40).
9. Next they go to Thessalonica, preach in the synagogue and make converts. But some Jews make trouble (Acts 17:1-9).
10. Paul and Silas are sent by night to Berea. Working in Berea, they find ready minds to receive the gospel. But the trouble makers arrive and Paul is taken to Athens to avoid them (Acts 17:10-15).
11. Paul's sermon in Athens (Acts 17:16-34).
12. After Athens Paul went to work in Corinth, where he met Aquila and Priscilla. In Corinth, Silas and Timothy rejoined Paul (Acts 18:1-5).
13. In Corinth, some Jews make serious trouble again (Acts 18:6-17).
14. Paul sets sail to go back to Syria. From Corinth Paul went to Ephesus via Cenchrea. He stayed at Ephesus only a short time on that occasion (Acts 18:18-21).
15. He took a ship to Caesarea (south of Tyre and Ptolemais), visiting the church there, then went back to Syrian Antioch where his journey had begun (Acts 18:22).
