Footsteps of Paul Trip
April or May 2027
The Footsteps of Paul trip is designed to help participants deepen their understanding of the New Testament by visiting several locations connected to the ministry of the Apostle Paul. During this trip, we will explore key biblical sites in Greece and Rome, including Mars Hill in Athens, the ancient city of Corinth, Thessaloniki, and Philippi, where Paul and Silas were imprisoned. We will also travel to Rome, where Paul was eventually imprisoned and later martyred.
Throughout the trip, there will be opportunities for teaching, reflection, and group devotionals as we consider the historical and spiritual significance of these locations. Our hope is that this experience will strengthen participants’ faith, enrich their understanding of Scripture, and deepen their appreciation for the spread of the gospel in the early church.
Members of Word of Life Chapel will receive first priority for this trip. If space remains available, individuals who do not attend Word of Life Chapel may apply; however, they must include a pastoral reference with their application
We are limiting the trip to 8–10 participants (not including PZ and PW) so that the experience remains personal, meaningful, and conducive to discussion, teaching, and reflection at each site.
Ballpark Cost: $3,000 per person (not including food). As the date approaches, we will provide updated information regarding the final cost and exact dates.
Key Sites and Biblical Connections
Athens
Mars Hill (Areopagus)
Passage: Acts 17:16–34
Connection: Paul addressed the philosophers of Athens here, proclaiming the true God to a city filled with idols.
Agora (Marketplace)
Passage: Acts 17:17
Connection: Paul reasoned daily in the marketplace with those who happened to be there.
Acropolis
Passage: Acts 17:16
Connection: The many temples illustrate why Paul observed that Athens was “full of idols.”
Corinth
Bema Seat
Passage: Acts 18:12–17
Connection: Paul was brought before the Roman proconsul Gallio at this judgment seat when Jewish leaders accused him.
Agora (Marketplace)
Passage: Acts 18:1–4
Connection: Corinth’s marketplace reflects the commercial setting where Paul worked as a tentmaker and interacted with the city.
Temple of Apollo
Passages: 1 Corinthians 8–10; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11
Connection: Corinth’s pagan temples help explain Paul’s teaching about idolatry and moral transformation in Christ.
Lechaion Road
Passages: 1 Corinthians 1:26; 1 Corinthians 9:19–23
Connection: This major trade route highlights the diverse population Paul sought to reach with the gospel.
Synagogue Area
Passage: Acts 18:4
Connection: Paul reasoned with Jews and Greeks in the synagogue each Sabbath.
Philippi
Lydia’s Baptism Site
Passage: Acts 16:13–15
Connection: Lydia believed the gospel and was baptized by the river, becoming the first recorded convert in Europe.
Forum (Marketplace)
Passage: Acts 16:16–19
Connection: Paul and Silas were dragged into the marketplace after Paul cast a demon out of a slave girl.
Prison of Paul and Silas
Passage: Acts 16:23–34
Connection: Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns here before the earthquake and the conversion of the Philippian jailer.
Early Christian Basilica Ruins
Passage: Philippians 1:3–5
Connection: Later church buildings show the growth of the Christian community that began with Paul’s ministry.
Via Egnatia (Roman Highway)
Passage: Acts 16:11–12
Connection: Philippi sat along this major Roman highway, which helped the gospel spread throughout the Roman world.
Thessaloniki
Ancient Agora (Marketplace)
Passage: Acts 17:1, 5
Connection: Paul entered Thessalonica and reasoned in the city, and opposition arose, forming a mob and setting the city in an uproar. The marketplace reflects the public setting where the gospel was proclaimed and resisted.
Jason’s House
Passage: Acts 17:5–9
Connection: Jason hosted Paul and Silas, and his house became the focal point of persecution. He was dragged before city authorities, showing the cost of associating with the gospel and the accusation that believers were “turning the world upside down.”
Synagogue Area (General Location)
Passage: Acts 17:1–4
Connection: Paul reasoned from the Scriptures for three Sabbaths, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise. Some Jews, many Greeks, and leading women believed.
Via Egnatia (Roman Highway)
Passage: Acts 17:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:8
Connection: Thessalonica sat along this major Roman road, helping explain how the gospel spread rapidly from the city as the word of the Lord “sounded forth” throughout the region.
City Setting (Free City / Political Context)
Passage: Acts 17:6–7; 1 Thessalonians 2:14–16
Connection: As a free city loyal to Rome, Thessalonica provides context for the political accusation that believers were proclaiming another king, Jesus, showing how the gospel was seen as both religiously and politically disruptive.
Early Church Growth (Later Christian Presence)
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:6–8
Connection: The later presence of a strong Christian community reflects how the church in Thessalonica became a model of faith, endurance, and gospel witness despite persecution.
Rome
Vatican (discussion of priesthood and sacrifice)
Passages: Hebrews 4:14–16; Hebrews 9:11–14; Hebrews 10:11–14
Connection: These passages highlight Jesus as the true High Priest and the final sacrifice for sin.
Mamertine Prison
Passage: 2 Timothy 4:6–8
Connection: Traditionally believed to be the place where Paul was imprisoned before his execution in Rome.
Paul’s House Arrest
Passage: Acts 28:11–31
Connection: Paul spent two years under house arrest in Rome preaching the gospel and teaching about Jesus.
Colosseum
Passage: 2 Timothy 4:6–8
Connection: The Colosseum represents the persecution Christians faced under the Roman Empire.
Roman Forum
Passage: Acts 25:10–12
Connection: The political center of Rome reflects the legal system Paul appealed to when he appealed to Caesar.
Appian Way
Passage: Acts 28:14–15
Connection: Paul traveled this famous Roman road toward Rome, where believers came out to meet him.