While making preparations for the journey Barnabas wanted to take along his cousin John Mark, too. But as a man of principle, "Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work." It may be that the young Mark was afraid of the difficulties ahead and therefore returned home to Jerusalem (13:13). We know that Paul's attitude to Mark changed later and he became once again a "helpful" colleague (Col. 4:10, 2 Tim. 4:11 and Philemon 24). According to tradition, he wrote Mark's Gospel. And he acted as Peter's closest helper and interpreter in Alexandria, until he suffered a martyr's death. Paul and Barnabas "had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus" (15:39) to his home district.

And so begins the second missionary journey. Paul chooses Silas as his companion, "the brothers commended him to the grace of the Lord, and he set off on the journey. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches" (15:40-41). Because sailing to Cyprus was already possible then and the Cilician pass was free of snow, making possible travel by land, Paul's second missionary journey evidently began round about February in the year 50 and ended perhaps in spring 53.

The route of the second missionary journey and its main events can be best seen from the accompanying diagram, which it is good to follow along with the corresponding passages in Acts and the map. In principle the journey is divided into three parts: activities in the area of modern-day Turkey, beginning from Antioch, the phase in Greece and the journey home. Tarsus; Paul travels through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches (15:41). Derbe and Lystra; Timothy joins the company, and the decisions of the Jerusalem council are communicated to the churches (16:1-5). Iconium and Antioch in Phrygia and Galatia; the Holy Spirit prevents them from sharing the Word in Asia and going to Bithynia (16:6-7). Troas; after passing Mysia to Troas Paul sees a vision of a Macedonian man, who calls him "over to Macedonia." The "we"-passages begin, so Luke has now joined the company (16:8-10). Philippi; after sailing to Samothrace and Neapolis Paul arrives in Philippi. The conversion of Lydia, the seller of purple goods and the baptism of her household (16:12-15), the casting out of "the spirit of divination" from the servant girl (16:16-18), Paul and Silas are imprisoned and flogged (16:19-24), the earthquake, release and the conversion of the jailer and his family (16:25-40). Amphipolis, Apollonia and Thessalonica; Paul held "discussions" on three Sabbaths in the synagogue and a great number of Greeks came to faith (17:1-4), Paul's host Jason is dragged to court. Berea; synagogue sermon: the Berean Jews were nobler than the Thessalonians and they "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true"(17:10-12). Jews from Thessalonica incite the people and Paul is accompanied to Athens. Only Silas and Timothy stay in Berea (17:13-15). Athens; Areiopagus sermon and the conversion of Dionysius, one of its members, and of Damaris (17:16-34). Corinth; Paul stays in the city for eighteen months teaching the Word of God. Accommodation with Aquila and Priscilla (18:1-3), "dialogue" ithe synagogue (18:4), Silas and Timothy join the company (18:5-6), Titus Justus and Crispus and many others are baptised (18:7-8), Paul's vision and new encouragement for the work in Corinth (18:9-10), Paul stays eighteen months in Corinth and evidently writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians (18:11). Proconsul Gallio, brother of the philosopher Seneca, refuses to condemn Paul (18:12-17). The voyage from Cenchreae to Ephesus; Paul discusses in the synagogue and leaves responsibility for the church to Aquila and Priscilla (18:18-19). The voyage to Caesarea and the journey to Jerusalem, taking there greetings from the churches and return to Antioch; there Paul has to rebuke Peter for hypocrisy (18:20-22 and Gal. 2:11-21).

 Among the fruit of the second missionary journey can be included the converts of the Corinth phase, with whom he later maintained contact by letter:

Crispus (Acts 18:8)
Stephanas (1 Cor. 16:15)
Fortunatus (1 Cor. 16:17)
Achaicus (1 Cor. 16:17)
Erastus ( Rom. 16:23)
Gaius (1 Cor. 1:14)
Tertius (Rom. 16:22)
Quartus (Rom. 16:23)
Sosthenes (1 Cor.1:1)
Chloe (1 Cor. 1:11) and
Phoebe (Rom. 16:1)

 Paul's partner on the second missionary journey, Silas or Silvanus, was evidently a remerkable personality. It is said of him that he was "one of the leading men" of the Jerusalem church and that he had the gift of prophecy, with which he encouraged the brethren (Acts 15:22,32). The second missionary journey meant constant mortal danger. Therefore Paul and Silas were commended "to the grace of the Lord." Those who have sometimes experienced threats and mortal danger for the sake of the Gospel can comprehend Paul's and Silas' inner joy when in the Philippi prison, with torn clothes and having been flogged, they "were praying and singing hymns to God." In Corinth Paul "devoted himself exclusively to preaching the word," and he was supported by Timothy as well as Silas (18:5). These three are also mentioned in the introduction of the letters to the Thessalonians written from Corinth (1 Thess.1:1 and 2 Thess. 1:1) and in 2 Corinthians (1:19). After the second missionary journey Silas parted from Paul and founded churches in different parts of Asia. He also acted as Peter's "faithful" colleague and as scribe of 2 Peter (2 Pet. 5:12).