LETTERS OF APOSTLES
To First-Century Churches

Prologue:  Overview
Events Leading Up to Writing First Letter in New Testamen
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Since Paul wrote much of the New Testament, an outline of his earlier years is given.
Paul was close to the age of Jesus, perhaps five or ten years younger.
��������������� ALL CAPITAL LETTERS  indicates a province
���������������       Small Letters indicates a county
��������������� Italicized Small Letters indicates a city
��������������� * indicates Paul wrote the church in this city a letter either before or after his visit.
��������������� Dates assume Jesus was born BC 6.� All dates are approximate.
CILICIA, TURKEY:
Tarsus (view)
AD 5?�� Acts 22:3��������� Born in Tarsus, Celicia, on border of Turkey
����������� Acts 22:28������� Roman Citizenship given to everyone who lived in Tarsus
����������� Phil. 3:������������� Full-blooded Jew of Tribe of Benjamin
JUDEA:
Jerusalem (view)
AD 10�� Acts 22:3��������� Moved to Jerusalem to study under theologian Gamaliel
����������� Gal. 1:14���������� Was intellectually superior to other students
����������� Acts 26:4-5������ Was a Pharisee, a Jew who believed in the resurrection
AD 27�������������������������� Jesus crucified, raised, and ascended back to heaven
AD 28�� Acts 22:4-5������ At age 30, married Jewish men became eligible to be priests, elders, etc. and be part of the Sanhedrin;
����������� Acts 26:9-11����� Paul apparently was a member as he voted to have Christians put to death.�
����������� Acts 7:58-9:2���� Held coats while Stephen was stoned to death
����������� 1 Tim. 1:13������� He was a "violent man"
SYRIA:
Damascus
AD 29�� Acts 9:1-19������ On his way to arrest more Christians, Jesus appeared from heaven to Paul and sent him into town to find                                            out from Ananias what he must do to be saved.
����������� Acts 9:20-22����� Immediately preached Christianity in synagogues of Damascus
ARABIA:
AD 30�� Gal. 1:16-17����� In seclusion, was taught 3 years personally by Jesus
SYRIA:
Damascus
AD 33�� Acts 9:23-25����� Resumed preaching, but Jews conspired with King Aretas to have him arrested & executed so
����������� 2 Cor 11:32-33�� he escaped by night over the wall.
JUDEA:
Jerusalem
AD 34�� Acts 9:26-28����� Went to join the disciples there, but they refused because they were afraid of him.� So Barnabas took him                                             and introduced him to the apostles.
����������� Gal. 1:18-19����� In Jerusalem stayed two weeks with Peter.� Also saw James, Jesus' brother, now identified as an apostle.�                                         Did not see any other apostles.
����������� Acts 9:28-30a��� During that time, Paul debated the Grecian Jews and they tried to kill him.� The Christians learned of the                                               conspiracy.
����������� Acts 22:17-21��� Meanwhile, while in the temple, Jesus appeared to Paul in a trance and told him to escape Jerusalem                                                and begin preaching to the Gentiles "far away."
Caesarea
����������� Acts 9:30b������� The Christians helped him escape to Caesarea, a seaport town on the Mediterranean, to go to Paul's                                                   hometown of Tarsus.
CILICIA, TURKEY, AND SYRIA:
AD 35�� Gal. 1:21-24����� Preached throughout Syria, his home province, and Cilicia on the north border probably about five years.
SYRIA:
Antioch (view)
AD 37�� Acts 11:19-24��� The churches that began in Phoenicia/Lebanon, and in Cyrene on the other side of Egypt, and on the                                                    island of Cyprus sent men to Antioch to begin the church there.�
AD 39�������������������������� The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to encourage them.
AD 40�� Acts 11:25-26��� Barnabus went to Tarsus to find Saul.� He took him back to Antioch to further mentor him.
JUDEA:
Jerusalem
AD 41�� Acts 11:27-30��� A year later, a severe famine occurred and the church in Antioch sent funds by Paul and Barnabus to help                                            the poor Christians in Judea.
AD 42�� Acts 12:1-19����� Apostle James beheaded.
PAUL'S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY
Paul Age 47
SYRIA:
Antioch
����������� Acts 13:1��������� Elders sent out Paul and Barnabus to preach in Turkey.
CYPRUS
����������� Acts 13:4-12����� With John Mark as their helper
PAMPHYLIA, TURKEY:
Perga��� Acts 13:13������� John Mark returned to Jerusalem
*GALATIA, TURKEY:
Pisidia:�����������
����������� Gal. 4:13-14����� Went here because Paul was sick
Antioch (view)
����������� Acts 13:14-52 �� Preached in synagogue
����������������������������������� Typical sermon
����������������������������������� Turned away from Jews to Gentiles
Lyconium:
Iconium (view)
����������� Acts 14:1-5������ Preached in synagogue
����������������������������������� Nearly stoned.� Fled
�����������������������������������
Lystra (view) � Act 14:6-19������� Healed lame man
����������������������������������� Barnabus called Zeus, Paul called Hermes
����������������������������������� Jews from Antioch & Iconium stirred crowd
����������������������������������� Stoned, left for dead
Derbe�(view)�� Acts 14:20������� To recover from stoning
����������������������������������� Out-of-Body experience while near death (2 Cor. 12:1ff)?
Lystra�� Acts 14:21-23��� Strengthened congregations he'd established
Iconium������������������������ Also appointed elders
Pisidia Acts 14:24a������ Passed through
����������������������������������� (He will write the congregations in Galatia the following year from Jerusalem regarding these Gentiles                                                  keeping the Law of Moses which the Jews kept insisting on.)
PAMPHYLIA, TURKEY:
Perga��� Acts 14:24f������� Preached
Attalia Acts 14:26a������� Sailed home to Antioch
AD 44
SYRIA:
Antioch (view)
����������� Acts 14:26ff������ Reported in to elders and stayed "a long time"
AD 46
JUDEA:
Jerusalem��������
����������� Gal. 1:18; 2:14�� Went to Jerusalem to consult with apostles regarding Jewish Christians making Gentile Christians keep                                            the Law of Moses (17 years after conversion)
����������� Acts 15:1-21����� Council of apostles and elders regarding Gentiles keeping Law of Moses
����������� Acts 15:22������� Selected Judas/Barsabbas and Silas to represent them to Gentiles�����������
����������� Acts 15:23-29��� Apostles wrote letter to "believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia" for them to deliver
������������������������ Another famine which they observed while here.� Will spread the word around Turkey and Greece.
JAMES WROTE HIS LETTER
Theme:� Justifying
����������� RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS�����������������������������������������                                               GO TO LETTER BY JAMES
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