TheFootsteps of Paul Experience
A Spiritual Adventure in Turkey and Greece
May 27-June 11, 2020
“The Footsteps of Paul Experience” is a unique two-week journey across Turkey and Greece, from Antioch to Corinth. We travel the ancient routes by which the Apostle Paul brought the Good News of Jesus to Jews and Gentiles on his three missionary journeys. This is not a tour and we are not a tour company. This is a Christian pilgrimage in the historical places where Paul and his disciples actually carried out their mission. We travel as an extended family on a spiritual journey together.
Each day will begin with time for prayer and Scripture reading based on our itinerary that day. We will visit the sites with the greatest historical significance that illuminate the biblical account of Paul’s life. At each site we will offer an overview of the history and archaeology and then conclude with a time of biblical reflection, sharing, and prayer. In the evenings there will be opportunities for worship, teaching, processing in small groups, and free time.
The group is limited to 21 people so we can move efficiently, get to know each other on a deeper level, and share a spiritual experience. We will be traveling in passenger vans, averaging about three hours of driving per day, traversing beautiful country and exploring breathtaking ancient sites. We will eat our lunches along the way, our dinners will consist of local cuisine from our favorite restaurants, and each night we will stay in small boutique hotels with rich cultural and historical ambiance, including four nights on the Mediterranean.
To prepare for the trip participants should read two books,
Our trip leader is Bob Rognlien, a pastor, teacher and guide with 30 years’ experience. Bob first traveled in Greece and Turkey at the age of 21 and then lived in Jerusalem where he conducted post-graduate studies in New Testament archaeology and sociology. Bob and his wife Pam have been leading trips like this in the Middle East for over 25 years. The cost of the trip is $2950 per person, not including airfare to Hatay, Turkey and return from Athens. This does include all your meals and expenses during the trip.
Again, this is not a tour, it is a spiritual pilgrimage. Our goal is to experience some of what Paul and his disciples experienced as they followed Jesus and extended his Kingdom movement. Many people who have taken this kind of journey with us over the last 25 years have called it the trip of a lifetime. It is certainly an unforgettable experience that will profoundly shape your reading of Acts and the Letters of Paul. If you are interested in joining us, contact Bob Rognlien right away at
Daily Itinerary
15 days, 2200 miles, 3 hours average driving time per day
Day Zero, Wednesday
Fly in to Hatay, Turkey
Accommodations:
Theme: Saul’s Conversion: The Adventure Begins
Day One, Thursday (1 hour of driving)
Theme: Saul in Antioch: A New Community and Calling
Visit: Ancient Cave Church of Antioch, Hatay Archaeological Museum, Harbor of Seleucia Peria
Day Two, Friday (3.5 hours of driving)
Antioch to Roman Road in Cilicia: 3 hours
Roman Road to Tarsus: .5 hour
Theme: Saul’s Hometown: Doing It Alone
Visit: Roman Road, St. Paul’s Well, Ancient Shop Street
Accommodations:
Day Three, Saturday (7 hours of driving)
Tarsus to Anemurium (Anamur): 4 hours
Anemurium to Side: 3 hours
Theme: First Miss. Journey: Paul’s Call to the Gentiles
Visit: Ancient ruins of Side
Accommodations:
Day Four, Sunday (3 hours of driving)
Side to Perga (Aksu): 1 hour
Perga to Egirdir: 2 hours
Theme: Paul in Perga: The Missional Challenge
Visit: Ancient Perga
Accommodations:
Day Five, Monday (3 hours of driving)
Egirdir to Pisidian Antioch (Yalvac): .5 hours
Pisidian Antioch to Iconium (Konya): 2.5 hours
Theme: Paul and Barnabas in Galatia: Gospel Takes Root
Visit: Ruins of ancient Pisidian Antioch
Accommodations:
Day Six, Tuesday (2 hours of driving)
Iconium to Lystra (Hatunsaray): 2 hour round trip
Theme: Paul and Barnabas in Lystra: Overcoming Kingdom Opposition
Visit: Unexcavated ruins of Lystra, Konya Archaeological Museum, Mevlana Mosque
Accommodations:
Day Seven, Wednesday (5.5 hours driving)
Iconium to Laodicea: 5 hours
Laodicea to Hierapolis (Pamukkale): .5 hour drive
Theme: Paul Multiplies Leaders: Making Disciples Who Can Make Disciples
Visit: Unexcavated site of Colossae, ruins of Laodicea
Accommodations:
Day Eight, Thursday (3 hours of driving)
Pamukkale to Ephesus (Selcuk): 3 hours
Theme: Third Missionary Journey: Paul Establishes a Base for Breakthrough
Visit: The ancient city of Ephesus, Temple of Artemis
Accommodations:
Day Nine, Friday (2 hours of driving)
Ephesus to Cesme: 2 hours
Theme: Second Missionary Journey: Paul Does What the Spirit is Doing
Visit: Ephesus Archaeological Museum, Basilica of St John the Theologian
Ferry from Cesme to Greek island of Chios (1 hr sailing)
Accommodations:
Day Ten, Saturday (12 hours sailing)
Ferry from Chios to Neapolis (Kavala): 12 hours
Theme: Paul’s Macedonian Call: New Territory
Stay in Philippi (Krenides)
Accommodations:
Day Eleven, Sunday (3.5 hours of driving)
Philippi to Royal Tomb (Vergina): 2.5 hours
Vergina to Platamon: 1 hour
Theme: Paul & Silas in Philippi: Power Perfected in Weakness
Visit: Ruins of Philippi, Lydia’s baptism site, Royal Tombs of Philip Museum
Accommodation:
Day Twelve, Monday (4 hours of driving)
Platamon to Athens: 4 hours
Overnight in Athens
Theme: Paul on the Areopagus: All Things to All People
Visit: Agora, Areopagus, Acropolis and Parthenon
Accommodations:
Day Thirteen, Tuesday (1.5 hours of driving)
Visit: Athens Archaeological Museum
Athens to Corinth Canal, Cenchrea, Diolkos, Lechion
Accommodations:
Theme: Paul in Corinth: Deploying Disciples
Day Fourteen, Wednesday (1.5 hour of driving)
Visit: ruins of Corinth, Acrocorinth
Accommodations:
Theme: Paul in Corinth: Finishing the Race
Day Fifteen, Thursday (1.5 hour of driving)
Corinth to Airport: 1 hour
Depart from Athens for home!
(Revised: 06/22/18)