Acts 16:32
Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
Scripture: Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain
- WHERE
- Philippi
- WHEN
- c. AD 49-52
ON THE MAP
WHEN
c. AD 49-52
counted from the text
The eighteen months in Corinth fit Paul into the Roman calendar in years, not just in order.
WHO RULED
- Claudius emperor of Rome AD 41-54
- Gallio proconsul of Achaia AD 51-52
- Herod Agrippa II king of Judea AD 50-93
- Antonius Felix procurator of Judea AD 52-59
MEANWHILE
-
c. AD 49 Italy
Claudius expels the Jews from Rome
That is why Aquila and Priscilla are in Corinth when Paul arrives, in Acts 18:2.
-
AD 51-52 Achaia
Gallio is proconsul of Achaia
The Delphi inscription dates his term, and with it the only fixed date in Paul's life.
SOURCES
- date — Acts 18:12 puts Paul before Gallio, proconsul of Achaia in AD 51-52 by the Delphi inscription. It is the anchor of the whole chronology of Paul.
- Claudius — Suetonius, Claudius; Tacitus, Annals XI-XII
- Gallio — Delphi inscription (SIG 801d), which dates his term; Acts 18:12. It is the only fixed date in Paul's chronology.
- Herod Agrippa II — Josephus, Jewish War II; Antiquities XX
- Antonius Felix — Josephus, Antiquities XX.7-8; Tacitus, Annals XII.54
- Claudius expels the Jews from Rome — Suetonius, Claudius 25.4; Orosius VII.6
- Gallio is proconsul of Achaia — Delphi inscription (SIG 801d); Acts 18:12
WHAT HAPPENED
-
The church in Europe begins in a house AD 50 (approximate date)
Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, is the first recorded convert on the continent. The European church begins in a businesswoman’s living room.
SEE ALSO
- Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
- Colossians 1:27-28 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. …
- 1 Thessalonians 2:8 We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
- 1 Timothy 1:13-16 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. …
Cross-references: OpenBible.info, CC BY 4.0
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