Map and timeline

Where the story moves, and where it sits in Israel’s history.

The story's places

Coordinates and outlines: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0; Jordan River © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0.

Stops

Stop 1 · 1 Thessalonians 2:2; Acts 16:11-40

Paul and Silas had been "shamefully treated" in Philippi, a Roman colony, before coming to Thessalonica.

How sure scholars are of each location

PhilippiHigh confidence
Named in 1 verse: 1 Thessalonians 2:2
41.012° N, 24.285° E
ThessalonicaHigh confidence
Today: Thessaloniki. Named in 1 verse: 1 Thessalonians 1:1
40.638° N, 22.946° E
AthensHigh confidence
Named in 1 verse: 1 Thessalonians 3:1
37.972° N, 23.727° E
CorinthHigh confidence
Shown for orientation; not named in 1 Thessalonians.
37.906° N, 22.879° E
MacedoniaHigh confidence
A region. Named in 3 verses: 1 Thessalonians 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:10
41.600° N, 22.540° E
AchaiaHigh confidence
A region. Named in 2 verses: 1 Thessalonians 1:7, 1 Thessalonians 1:8
38.720° N, 22.540° E
Mediterranean SeaHigh confidence
Shown for orientation; not named in 1 Thessalonians.
31.805° N, 34.170° E

Some outlines © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0.

Shown in order, not to scale. Dates are debated.

Rome and Herod

Jesus' ministry

The early church

The Jewish war and after

Judea and Galilee

Herod the Great rules for Rome and rebuilds the temple.

Jesus is crucified and rises (about AD 30).

The church spreads from Jerusalem; the Jerusalem meeting about Gentile believers is about AD 49.

Revolt against Rome from AD 66; the temple destroyed in AD 70.

The empire

Augustus becomes emperor.

Tiberius is emperor.

Claudius is emperor (AD 41 to 54); Thessalonica is the capital of Macedonia; Gallio governs Achaia.

A year of civil war, then Vespasian.

This book

Written from Corinth, about AD 50 to 51