Elçilerin İşleri 13-14’te anlatıldığı üzere birinci seyahatinde Paulos’un Pamphylia’ya gelişiyle ilgili ayrıntılar henüz yeterince incelenmemiştir. Bu makalede Orontes üzerindeki Antakya’dan yola çıkan Paulos’un niyetinin Galatia’da öğretisini yaymak olup olmadığını irdelenecektir. Sonra ilgili arkeolojik, edebi ve tarihi verileri inceleyerek Paulos’un Pamphylia’ya varışı üzerine önerilen üç olası senaryo değerlendirilecektir. Bu kanıtların akabinde elçi ekibinin Pamphylia’ya varış limanı üzerine yeni bir hipotez sunulacaktır. Makale, Ioannes Markos’un terk edilmesi ve Paulos ile Barnabas’ın Perge’den aceleyle ayrılmalarıyla ilgili koşulları irdeleyerek sonlanacaktır.

In 2000 D. A. Campbell published a critical note on Paul’s visits in Pamphylia mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles henceforth Acts chapters 13 and 141. The present article builds on Campbell’s observations to address several outstanding questions regarding Paul’s visits to Pamphylia and to highlight several new archaeological discoveries either not mentioned by Campbell or found since then. But did such a journey even happen? Murphy O’Connor is representative of scholars who dismiss the journey as a Lukan creation: “A close analysis of this account brings to light so many improbabilities that it becomes impossible to accord it any real confidence”2. However, most scholars do not take such a negative approach in dealing with the account of Luke, the traditional author. Speaking positively about the text, Campbell concluded that Paul’s two visits to Pamphylia, although seeming initially a bit puzzling, are “deliberately asymmetrical, and it is this that betrays their almost certain accuracy in historical terms” his italics 3. This article will examine three dimensions related to Paul coming to Pamphylia: 1 whether it was intended, 2 where it happened, and 3 the circumstances of departure. Paul’s arrival is mentioned in Acts 13:13: “Putting out to sea from Paphos, Paul and his companions arrived at Perga of Pamphylia” Gr. Ἀναχθέντες δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς Πάφου οἱ περὶ Παῦλον ἦλθον εἰς Πέργην τῆς Παμφυλίας 4.