Geography of Paul’s Travels

Paul began his first mission from Syrian Antioch (Acts 13:1–3)—in the same region of his hometown, Tarsus. Antioch lies in the plain of the lower Orontes River valley. Paul left Antioch and sailed to Cyprus, visiting Salamis and Paphos (Acts 13:4–6). From there he went to Asia Minor, focusing on the south quarter of the region. This area is characterized by high mountains broken by river valleys running northeast to southwest. Paul landed at Perga, on the Mediterranean coast (Acts 13:13). The mountains of the region drop steeply to the sea along the coast, except for the region of Pamphylia, where Perga is located. These mountains, along with southerly winds from the Mediterranean, cause enough rainfall to support extensive forests. Countries as far away as Egypt came to the area to procure timber. The climate of the coast is fairly mild, with average temperatures in the winter of 50°F and 83°F in the summer. Paul left the coast and travelled inland to Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:14).

In contrast to the coast, the inland plateau is much cooler—a high plateau averaging 3,000 to 5,000 feet. Summers average 70°F, while winters average 30°F. There are more than 100 days a year with frost. Due to being in a rain shadow, the inland highlands only average 10 to 17 inches of rain a year. From Pisidian Antioch, Paul went southeast to Iconium (Acts 13:51), then to Lystra and Derbe (Acts 14:6). From Derbe he backtracked his route (Acts 14:21), then sailed from Attalia, near Perga, back to Syrian Antioch (Acts 14:24–26).

On his second missionary journey, Paul went to Greece. Departing from Troas (ancient Troy) in northwestern Asia Minor, he sailed across the northern Aegean and landed in eastern Macedonia—the northern region of Greece—at Samothrace (Acts 16:11). Macedonia is mostly mountainous, except for the coastal plain where Paul traveled. On the coast, four rivers (the Haliacmon, Vardar, Strymon, and Nestos) flow down from the mountains and fertilize the plain with alluvial soil. Macedonia is the only region in Greece that supports considerable agricultural activity. Paul then travelled north to Neapolis (Acts 16:11), and on to Philippi, “the foremost city of that part of Macedonia” (Acts 16:12). He turned west, along the coast, visiting Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica, and Berea.

Threatened by Thessalonian Jews, Paul traveled south to Athens and Corinth. Corinth features one of the most famous acropolises in the ancient world—the Acrocorinth. The Acrocorinth is a 1,885-foot-tall rock rising above the Corinthian plain. Three of its sides are steep cliffs, while the fourth side is accessible only along a steep ridge connecting the rock to the hills that the acropolis juts out of. This natural fortress has been used as the defense of last resort for Corinth for thousands of years.

Paul’s third missionary journey also began in Antioch (Acts 18:22). He traveled north, probably along the main highway in the region. He first climbed to the Syrian Gates—the narrow pass through the Amanus Mountains—then turned west, visiting Tarsus in the Cydnus River valley. He then climbed the Taurus Mountains and crossed over into Galatia and Phrygia (Acts 18:23) through the Cilician Gates—a valuable pass within Asia Minor. The Taurus Mountains form a formidable barrier to travel from the interior highlands of Asia Minor and the Mediterranean coast (and on south), with peaks topping out at over 11,000 feet. The Cilician Gates are the only pass through this natural wall, but the pass itself is located in a narrow, steep Gökoluk River valley (a tributary of the Cydnus River). As a natural choke point, anyone wishing to travel north—south through Asia Minor must make use of the Cilician Gates. As a result, armies from Alexander the Great to Ottoman Turks in World War I have passed through it. The area’s inaccessibility has long been taken advantage of by robbers and outlaws. When Paul said he was “in perils of robbers” (2 Cor 11:26), he may well have been speaking of this area.

Paul continued west, across the Lycaonian highlands, skirting the region of Pisidia, and entered Phrygia. Phrygia is a region of the high interior plateau. From Phrygia, Paul probably would have dropped into the Maeander River valley, perhaps visiting Colossae and Laodicea. The Maeander is one of the main rivers of Asia Minor, providing a convenient route from the interior of Asia Minor to the Aegean Sea. It is a wide, fertile valley known for its agricultural products. Near the Aegean coast, Paul turned north and entered Ephesus, where he stayed for just over three years (Acts 19:1–20). Ephesus was located near the mouth of the Cayster River and was a major port for imports and exports. Leaving Ephesus, he skirted the coast north, visiting Smyrna, Pergamum, and Troas. The Aegean coast of Asia Minor has a mild climate, with temperatures between 45°F in the winter and 75°F in the summer, and moderate but sufficient rainfall of 25 to 30 inches a year. It is characterized by a series of hills and mountains broken by river valleys running east to west.

Each of these valleys served as routes into the interior, and as places of settlement—taking advantage of the fertile soil and mineral riches of the region. These natural resources made the region valuable, and the home of many of the most populous cities in the Roman Empire. Sardis had over 50,000 residents, while Ephesus may have had as many as 250,000.