The Book of Acts - A Brief Chronological Study

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THE BOOK OF ACTS

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A BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF

 

The Acts of the Apostles

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BY

 

W.S. YEARSLEY

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VALUABLE FOR ALL BIBLE STUDENTS

 

1928

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THE BOOK OF ACTS

 

AUTHOR'S NOTE

 

The object of this summary is to show at a glance the plan of the book and how the chronology of the same has been computed, to show the probable time when the various Pauline epistles-were written and their occasion, and to give a general perspective view of the book on the background, as it were, of Roman history. The dates A.D. herein are two years in advance of accepted dates, which I have allowed in conformity with, and as a continuation of, my general chronology from creation to the fall of Jerusalem under Titus.

 

I trust it will be of some little service to those who love the Word of God.

 

W. S. YEARSLEY.

Avondale, New Zealand, 10th May, 1926.

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Booklet was reprinted from "The Christadelphian Shield" July, 1928.

 

Internet and Softcopy Edition, 2007, have had the Chapter numbers of the Bible updated from the original Roman Numerals to Arabic Numerals.

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THE BOOK OF ACTS

 

A Chronological Summary

 

Augustus was in his forty-second year (Eusebius, Bk. i. ch. 5) when Jesus of Nazareth was born. He reigned in all fifty-seven years six months. (Josephus, Ant., Bk. xviii, ch. 2, sec. 2.) Herod also died very shortly after the birth of Jesus, and his kingdom was divided between his sons as follows: — Archelaus received Judea, Antipas received Galilee, and Philip received Gaulonitis, etc.

 

10 A.D. Archelaus was banished and Judea became a Roman Province.

 

16 A.D. Tiberius. —Christ was about thirty years old when this Emperor was in the fifteenth year of his reign. He had a strong aversion to the Jews, and subjected their youth of Rome to rigorous treatment, sending them, under pretence of military service, to provinces noted for unhealthy climate. He was extremely superstitious even to cowardice, and a veritable beast for debauchery. The three succeeding Emperors were much the same, Nero exceeding them all in abominable practices. It was under these four Emperors that the events of the Acts of the Apostles were transacted.

 

27 A.D. In the eleventh year of Tiberius Pontine Pilate was appointed the Procurator of Judea, who raised Joseph Caiaphas to the high priesthood.

 

34 A.D. At the age of thirty-four, or thereabouts, Jesus Christ was put to death, from which point of time the record of the Acts begins, and closes two years after the appointment of Porcius Festus as Procurator of Judea—a period of thirty years.

 

34 A.D. Acts 1. This chapter, covers a period of forty days which Christ spent with his disciples. It also relates the election, after his ascension, of a witness to his resurrection in place of Judas Iscariot.

 

34-36 A.D. Acts 2-5. These chapters relate the experiences of Peter and John during the office of Caiaphas the High Priest, who was deposed when Vitellius came to Syria as President. This was in the twentieth year of Tiberius, which determines the period of the events of these four chapters. Tacitus, Bk. vi., ch. 32; Josephus, Ant., Bk. xviii., ch. 4, secs. 2 and 3.

 

Acts 6-7. These chapters record the selection of seven brethren to attend to the material business of the brotherhood, with special reference to the activity of Stephen and the persecution which his zeal for Christ evoked, concluding with his martyrdom.

 

Acts 8. This chapter relates the scattering of the disciples under the withering persecution of which Paul appears to have been the chief instigator. Philip, one of these scattered disciples at Samaria, converted many to Christ. From here he moved, in obedience to a divine call, south of Jerusalem, where he met the Ethiopian eunuch and baptized him. After this he moved to Caesarea, where he remained for at least twenty-six years, for we find him dwelling there when Paul arrived in Palestine for the last time (Acts 21:8). The events so far related all occurred before the conversion of Paul, therefore before 37 A.D.

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37 A.D. Acts 9:1-22. These verses relate the conversion of Paul and the circumstances under which it occurred. Verse 22 leaves the Apostle at Damascus just prior to his expulsion, which took place eight years after his conversion. During this period of eight years the Apostle visited Jerusalem privately, and travelled Cilicia and. Syria, which, will be treated of under the year 40 A.D. The events of the next section also took place during this interval.

 

Acts 9:32-11:18. This section continues the story of Peter, evidently some time after the news of Paul's, conversion had reached Jerusalem. In this section is related the story of Eneas, Tabitha (Dorcas), and Cornelius.

 

37 A.D. Pilate recalled. Herod Philip died. Herod Agrippa the Great succeeded Philip.

 

39 A.D. Caius (Caligula) succeeded Tiberius. Herod Antipas being accused of complicity in the conspiracy of Sejanus against the life of Tiberius-was banished from Galilee and his territory given to Agrippa the Great, who held Galilee, Gaulonitis, Perea, etc.

 

40 A.D. Paul paid his first visit to Jerusalem three years after his conversion (Gal 1:18). It must be specially noted here that this visit took place from Damascus, and was not a forced exit from that city. It must be further noticed that it was a special visit to see Peter, and that he saw no other Apostle save James, being still unknown by face to the churches in Judea (Gal 1:22). After seeing Peter he travelled Cilicia and Syria. Luke in his narrative (Acts 9:23-31) does not refer to this visit, but to one of a later date, when the Apostle was forced from Damascus, and when he was introduced to all the disciples at Jerusalem by Barnabas. Figures under 45 A.D., will prove this later visit to Jerusalem to have taken place eight years after his conversion, as before mentioned. I would hazard the following suggestions as to Paul's visit to Peter: —First, that he would doubtless have the deepest desire to express his joy at the revelation of Jesus Christ to him, and to express his contrition to the church which he had so vigorously persecuted; second, to discuss with Peter the conversion of the Gentiles as per the word of Ananias at Damascus (Acts 9:15). There were doubts in the minds of the Apostles and disciples on the acceptance of Gentile, converts. It required the outpouring of Spirit-power on Cornelius before Peter was convinced, and others who had been scattered as the result of the Stephanie persecution preached the Word to none but Jews only (Acts 11:19).

 

43 A.D. Claudius succeeds Caius as Emperor. Judea and Samaria were now handed over to Agrippa the Great. Thus the whole of Palestine and Transjordania came under the jurisdiction of the Jews.

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45 A.D. Acts 9:23-31. Paul driven by a plot from Damascus. To confirm this date it will be necessary to give a skeleton chronology of the Acts.

 

3 years after conversion Paul visits Peter (Gal 1:18).

 

14 years later he went to Jerusalem in connection with the circumcision controversy (Gal 2:1). This was at 'the conclusion of his first great missionary journey, and just before his second.

 

2 years. During his second missionary journey Paul remained eighteen months at Corinth (Acts 18:11), so that his journey could not have taken less than two years.

 

4 years. During his third missionary journey he remained three years at Ephesus (Acts 19:8-10), and 3 months in Greece (Acts 20:3), so that this journey must have occupied not less than four years, at the end of which he was arrested and kept in bonds for two years until

 

2 years. Festus was appointed Procurator of Judea in 62 A.D.

 

This total of twenty-five years subtracted from 62 A.D. (the year when Festus was appointed) demonstrates the conversion of Paul to have taken place about three years after the crucifixion of Christ, and therefore 37 A.D. A year before arriving at Jerusalem for the last time (he would then be in Macedonia 59 A.D., on his way to Corinth) he wrote the second epistle to the church at Corinth, in which he relates his expulsion from Damascus, and (presumably at Jerusalem, whence he fled) a vision which he received fourteen years previously (2 Cor 11:29-12:2). This vision appears to be no other than that which is related in Acts 22:11-21, note verse 17, where Paul, making his defence to the people of Jerusalem after his arrest, or rescue rather, referred to a vision which he had seen in the Temple. This, he writes to the Corinthians, took place fourteen years prior to the writing of the Epistle, and brings us to 45 A.D. as the date of his expulsion from Damascus. He was not in Jerusalem long before another plot to destroy him was engineered by the Jews, in fact the fame of Paul had spread throughout Jewry, and wherever he went he ran risks of death at the hands of his countrymen. From Jerusalem he was escorted out of clanger by the disciples to Caesarea, and from thence he went to his native city, Tarsus, "the equal," says Strabo, "of Alexandria, Athens, or Rome, for learning" (Bk. xiv., ch. 5, sec. 12).

 

Acts 11:19-30. Reports reached Jerusalem of the conversion of the Gentiles at Antioch. This being a cause for rejoicing, Barnabas is sent thither to strengthen them. Whilst here, it occurred to him to make an effort to discover the whereabouts of Paul, and, with that object in view, he went to Tarsus, where he was last heard of, and found him. They both returned to Antioch, where they remained one year, till sent with relief to Jerusalem because of a famine that was distressing the country, and, of which Agabus when on a visit he made, presumably before the accession of Claudius, had warned them.

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46 A.D. Acts 12:1-23. Agrippa kills James, imprisons Peter, and, moving to Caesarea, was stricken with a sudden illness, attributed to his great impiety to the Deity, and died suddenly in the third year of Claudius.

 

Acts 12:24-25. It would appear from these verses that Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch about the time of Agrippa's death, which fixes the approximate date of their first missionary journey, which began shortly after their arrival at Antioch. They were accompanied by John Mark.

 

Judaea now reverted to the status of a Roman. Province, as Agrippa's son was but a minor and too young to take the government.

 

46 A.D. to 53 A.D. Acts 13-14. — First Missionary Journey. Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark set out. Itinerary as follows: — Seleucia, Cyprus (where was Elymas the Sorcerer), Perga in Pamphylia (where John Mark deserted), Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra (where an impotent is healed, and people desired to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as gods), Derbe, thence back again, Lystra. Iconium, Antioch, Perga, Attalia, thence boat to Antioch.

 

54 A.D. Acts 15:1-35. Arriving back from their journey they found the church at Antioch distracted by Jews from Jerusalem, insisting on Gentile converts being circumcised. Paul and Barnabas were therefore delegated to go to Jerusalem to consult the Apostles, where they related their experiences and the conversion of the Gentiles. This conference approved their work, and Peter, James, and John gave them the right hand of fellowship with a special commission to preach to the Gentiles (Gal 2: 9). At a later date Peter, when at Antioch, and certain Jews which came from Jerusalem, seems to have withdrawn himself out of fear, which called forth upon him a stern rebuke from Paul. Even Barnabas was carried away with the same fear on this occasion, and it seems that this laid the foundation for that sharp contention (Acts 15:39) between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark's desertion during the previous journey. John Mark was cousin to Barnabas. They were both Jews of Jerusalem, and would doubtless be imbued with Gentile prejudices. Notwithstanding the divine nature of the call to the Gentiles, John Mark feared the wholesale admission of Gentiles into the Jewish church, and, for this cause, deserted Paul and Barnabas. The fears of the Jews respecting this wholesale admission of Gentiles into the Jewish church were well grounded, for in process of time, and that very quickly, these Gentile converts introduced their "gnosis" and philosophical speculations and also introduced foreign ideas of God, so that this once Jewish church became violently anti-Jewish, and the simplicity of the Jewish gospel was soon lost in a maze of Gentile theological speculation. The elders at Jerusalem, however, after the conference ended, wrote letters confirming their decision, and sent them by the hands of Judas and Silas (the Sylvanus of the Epistles) to Antioch, with whom Paul and Barnabas also returned. This conference we have already observed, took place fourteen years after Paul's visit to Peter (Gal 2:1). Judas, after delivering the letters of the Jerusalem church, returned to Jerusalem. Silas remained at Antioch, and eventually took the place of Barnabas as Paul's fellow-traveller.

 

54 A.D. Eleventh year of Claudius. Tacitus records the expulsion by decree of the Emperor of all astrologers from Italy. I am inclined to think the Jews were included in that proscription, as the Romans were severe against the Jews because of their obstinancy to their own pagan rites, and were generally disliked. We find accordingly about this time, that Aquila and Priscilla, whom Paul met at Corinth a year later, had been expelled from Italy by a decree of Claudius (Acts 18:2).

 

54 A.D. Felix was this year appointed Procurator of Judea. Twelfth year of Claudius, Agrippa, jun., was given the tetrarchy of Philip. Thirteenth year of Claudius. Felix married Drusilla.

 

54 A.D. to 56 A.D. Acts 15:36-18:22 — Second Missionary Journey. As mentioned, a "sharp contention" arose between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark as a companion. Barnabas refused to go without Mark, so Silas went with Paul instead, the itinerary being as follows: —Syria, Cilicia, Derbe, Lystra (where was Timothy, who joined Paul in his travels), Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia, Troas (site of Ancient Troy). thence to Macedonia (by boat via Samothrace), Neapolis, Philippi (where was Lydia, with whom they lodged, and where they were imprisoned and shamefully treated (1 Thess 2:2); an earthquake liberated them, and the jailor was converted), Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica (where a riot occurred, and they were escorted out of the city by the disciples, but Jason, their host, is compelled to give pledgee for the peace of the city), Berea (where Silas and Timothy remained while Paul journeyed ahead), Athens, Corinth (where Paul is joined by Timothy and Silas, and remained eighteen months, and from where he sent his First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians).

 

Paul now sailed for Syria, accompanied by Aquila and Priscilla as far as Ephesus, where the latter remained. The Jews desired Paul to remain longer, but though he did not consent he promised them another visit shortly. From Ephesus he arrived at Caesarea, and went thence to Antioch.

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56 A.D. Nero succeeds Claudius as Emperor. The placing of Nero here is only approximate, not that there is a doubt as to when he became Emperor, but there is no indication in the Acts just as to when Claudius died. There is nothing in Luke's narrative as to where Paul was at the time of Claudius's death.

 

Egyptian Pseudo Messiah led a band of Jewish enthusiasts. nationalists or robbers. perhaps-fanatics. He was vanquished by Felix, but escaped. The Roman centurion who rescued Paul from the Temple riot on his last visit to the city suggested that he might even be "this Egyptian" (Acts 21:38). The exploits of this fanatic are set down by Josephus early in the reign of Nero. Paul's return to Jerusalem, therefore, must be subsequent to the exploits of this rebel.

 

56 A.D. to 60 A.D. Acts 18-21:17. —Third Missionary Journey.

 

Itinerary as follows: —

 

Galatia. Phrygia, Ephesus (where, according to promise, Paul paid his visit to the Jews and disputed with them in the Synagogue three months). After this he disputed in a philosophical school for two years. In all he remained at Ephesus three years (Acts 20:31). After leaving Ephesus on the previous occasion, Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew, arrived at that city and proclaimed Jesus, but knew only the baptism of John. Aquila and Priscilla corrected him on this matter, after which he left, for Corinth, where he was resident when Paul arrived at Ephesus on this occasion (Acts 24:1). No mention is made of Aquila and Priscilla at Ephesus, but rather that certain disciples were still ignorant of baptism into Christ. How comes it that, if Aquila and Priscilla were still here, that, having instructed Apollos in this matter, these "certain disciples" had not heard of baptism into-Christ? I suggest the following explanation: — After a short stay at Ephesus Apollos went to Corinth, and Aquila either accompanied him or followed him. In any case, it seems as if Aquila and Priscilla were not at Ephesus when Paul arrived the second time, but we do find both Apollos and Aquila in Ephesus when Paul wrote his first epistle to Corinth a little later on. Another point to observe is this, that these "certain disciples" (Acts 19:1), were "members of the Synagogue" and may not therefore have been personally known to Aquila, nor even to other members of the synagogue as believers in Christ. That they were merely members of the Synagogue appears from the fact that after "three months" useless debate with the Jews, Paul "separated" these disciples (Acts 19:9) from the Synagogue, and this appears to have been the beginning of the Ephesian Church. Timothy and Erastus, after about a year's stay at Ephesus, are sent by Paul to Corinth in advance with his First Epistle to Corinth (Acts 19:22). That this was the occasion of his sending his epistle is evident from a comparison of the following references: 1 Cor 4:17; 16:8-10. At the time of writing the Apostle says "we hunger and thirst, are naked, are buffeted and have no certain dwelling-place, and we toil working with our own hands" (1 Cor 4:11; 15:32). In this epistle he asks the believers in Corinth to make a collection to send by his own hand, when he should arrive there, to the poor saints at Jerusalem. He sends in this Epistle the salutation of Aquila and Priscilla, also Apollos.

 

After delivering this epistle, Timothy was to return. After the dispatch of this epistle occurred the riot over Diana (engineered by Demetrius the Shrinemaker). After Pentecost (1 Cor 16:8-10) Paul left Ephesus for Macedonia via Troas (2 Cor 2:13), thence by boat to Macedonia. From this country Paul sent his Second Epistle to Corinth (2 Cor 2:12-13; 7:5,6; 8:1,16-24). This was one year later than the first epistle (2 Cor 8:10; 9:2). If we allow twelve months from then to the time of Paul's arrival in Jerusalem, the date of this letter would be 59 A.D., from which date is computed the date of Paul's escape from Damascus (2 Cor 2:32; 12:1). No doubt the Apostle spent a good while in those regions. He says he preached the gospel as far as Illyricum (Rom 15:19). From Macedonia the Apostle came to Greece (Corinth, most likely), and remained three months (Acts 20:3), from where at this time he sent his Epistles to Rome and Galatia. With the object of reaching Jerusalem in time of "the" feast (Passover, no doubt), Paul purposed to sail to, Syria, but a plot diverted him overland and he spent Passover at Philippi instead, thence five days to Troas (where he remained seven days, where was Eutychus), thence overland to Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, Miletus (where he sent for the Ephesian Elders to bid them a last farewell, and hurried forward to be in Jerusalem in time for Pentecost), Cos, Rhodes, Patara, Tyre (where he spent seven days with the disciples), Ptolemais (spent one day there), Caesarea (where was Philip the Evangelist), and Jerusalem. He had then been away many years (Acts 24:7). Paul is received by the elders at Jerusalem, who listened to his experiences with gladness, but there were many thousands of Jews in Jerusalem who believed and were very zealous for the law, and rumour had it that Paul had been dissuading Jews from its observance. This was not so and to show his own respect and allegiance to the law, he went to the Temple to purify himself. It was Pentecost, and Jews from all parts of the world were present. Some from Asia recognized Paul and supposed that he had brought some of his Greek friends into the Temple (for they had seen him a short while before with Trophimus, the Ephesian), (Acts 21:29). They raised a tumult and had him expelled. It is interesting to read Josephus's account of these times. Speaking of this very period, he writes, Ant., Bk. xx., ch. 8: — "Felix desiring to remove the High Priest, who had become obnoxious to him, did so in the following way. Certain of these robbers went up to the city as if they were going to worship God, while they had daggers concealed under their garments, and by thus mingling themselves among the multitude they slew Jonathan. And, as this murder was never avenged, the robbers went up with greater security at the festivals after this time, and having weapons concealed in like manner as before, and mingling themselves among the multitude, they slew certain of their own enemies, and were subservient to other men for money, and slew others, not only in remote parts of the city, but in the Temple itself also, for they had the boldness to murder men there, without thinking of the impiety of which they were guilty. And this seems to me," says Josephus, "to have been the reason why God, out of his hatred to these men's wickedness, rejected our city, and as for the Temple, he no longer esteemed it sufficiently pure for Him to inhabit therein, but brought the Romans upon us, and threw a fire upon the city to purge it, and brought upon us, our wives, and children, slavery, as desirous to make us wiser by our calamities." Such were the conditions of the times when the Apostle was ejected from the Temple and rescued by a Roman cohort.

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60 A.D. Acts 21:18; 26:32. Paul's reception by the Elders at Jerusalem as described, above, the riot in the Temple, his arrest, before the Sanhedrin, removal to Caesarea, before Felix and Drusilla twelve days after his arrival in Jerusalem (Acts 24:11), in bonds for two years, till the arrival of Festus.

 

62 A.D. Acts 27-28. Porcius Festus succeeded Felix as Procurator of Judea. This date is corroborated by the skeleton chronology on page 5. Before him, Paul appeals to Caesar, and is consequently sent to Rome. Itinerary as follows: — Sidon, Cyprus, Myra in Lycia (where they transshipped), Cnidus, Salmone, Lasea (a storm drove them away from Crete), past Island of Clauda (where they were in danger of being driven into the dangerous waters of the Syrtis on the north coast of Africa), tossed about in the Adria, Melita Island (here they were shipwrecked and remained three months, Publius, the Governor of the island, healed of sickness), Syracuse, Rhegium, Puteoli (where Paul spent seven days with the disciples), and Rome. From Rome the following Epistles were written and dispatched. It is interesting to note in them, the language of a "prisoner" standing trial: —

 

Epistle to:

Phillipi,

Colossae,

Philemon,

Ephesus,

Hebrews.

 

64 A.D. Paul spent two whole years at Rome in his own hired house, preaching the kingdom of God. Here the record of the Acts concludes.

 

66 A.D. Tenth year of Nero. The Emperor deliberately set fire to Rome and then accused the Christians of incendiarism. This was offered as an excuse for his brutal treatment of the Christians.

 

66 A.D. Florus this year succeeds Albinus as Procurator of Judea and was largely responsible for the rebellious attitude of the Jews, driven by him to desperation. The war with the Jews began in the twelth year of Nero and in the second year of Florus's administration (Josephus, Ant., Bk. xx., ch. 11, sec. 11).

 

In the letter which Paul sent to the Philippians he was about to stand for his trial, his first, consequent upon the appeal to Caesar, and through his epistle breathes a danger of death. He took an optimistic view of the matter, and trusted in being acquitted, in which ease he would visit Philippi (Phil 1:7-26; 2:19, 33. 24). He wrote also to Philemon, a member of the Colossian Ecclesia, in the same manner, note verse 22. From the fact that the Apostle mentions a first defence (2 Tim 4:16) it is a safe inference to say that lie was acquitted on that occasion, and would doubtless fulfil his promise to visit Philippi and Colossae. In his Epistle to Titus, a visit to Crete is mentioned, where the Apostle left his companion until he should arrive at Nicopolis, when he would send for him. Also, in his First Epistle to Timothy he-refers to a visit to Ephesus, where he left Timothy in charge proceeding himself to Macedonia, and, in all probability, to Philippi. Further than these meagre details we know little of Paul's labours after the close of Luke's record, except, that from Rome he sent a Second Epistle to Timothy, telling him of his great danger, having been again impeached, and urging him to come with all speed to see him before it was too late. On this occasion the Apostle wrote that he suffered as a common malefactor, having no hope whatever of acquittal. His words (2 Tim 2:3-13) are those of a doomed man. "I am already being offered," he concludes, "and the time of my departure is at hand." Luke was his only companion at the time of writing (2 Tim 4:11).

 

68 A.D. Jewish War began this year shortly after the Apostle's death.

 

72 A.D. Jerusalem captured, and the Temple burned.

 

W.S. Yearsley

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Further information and Roman dating can be found at:

 

Roman Timeline

 

BookofActsYearsley.pdf