3A Chronology of Paul's Life
The problems of Pauline chronology are similar to those in the study of Jesus.Evidence is sparse and scattered, and the sources are often dominated by literary andreligious purposes. Factors that are distinctive for a chronology of Paul are: (a) we have theapostle's own words about certain events in his life; (b) references to Paul's life in Actssometimes coincide with statements in Paul's letters; and (c) an ancient inscription seems tofit the Lukan account of Paul's appearance before Gallio (Acts 18:12-17).The document of primary importance in determining a chronology of Paul is theGallio Inscription found at Delphi, Greece (Achaia). Gallio's proconsulship of Achaia,mentioned in Acts 18:12-22, is independently attested by this document and can be datedwithin narrow limits. The inscription, with conjectural supplements [in square brackets]reads as follows:
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Tiberius [Claudius] Caesar Augustus Germanicus [Pontifex Maximus, in his tribunician] power [year 12, acclaimed Emperor for] the 26th time, father of the country, [consul for the 5th time, censor, sends greetings to the city of Delphi.] I have long been zealous for the city of Delphi [and favorable to it from the] beginning, and I have always observedthe cult of the [Pythian] Apollo, [but with regard to] the present stories, and thosequarrels of the citizens of which [a report has been made by Lucius] Junios Gallio myfriend, and [pro] consul [of Achaea].
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A knowledge of stereotyped titles in official inscriptions confirms that theaddressor is Claudius who became emperor on January 25, 41 CE. The acclamations wereirregular but from other inscriptions, we learn that he was acclaimed emperor for the 22nd,23rd, and 24th times in his 11th year of reign (51 CE) and that the 27th acclamation took place in the second half of his 12th year of reign (52 CE before August)
Read article here http://www.academia.edu/427919/Letters-Paul-Introduction-Good-Studies_Liturgical_Press_1994_
other reference
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001603
The apostle Paul went to Corinth while on his second journey, arriving there near the autumn of C.E. 50 or early C.E. 51. He spent 18 months in Corinth. 38 There is archaeological information which shows that Gallio, the Roman proconsul, was in office between January 25, C.E. 52 and before August 1, C.E. 52. 39 Paul went before Gallio at that time. 40 Afterward, in the middle part of C.E. 52, Paul went to Jerusalem, and finally back to his home base in Antioch of Syria. 41 Then in the spring of C.E. 53, Paul started out on his third journey, 42 reaching Ephesus in late spring of C.E. 53. He stayed there for two years 43 and near that end of that period, and just before the Passover season in C.E. 55, he wrote his first epistle to the Corinthians. 44 He ordered them, as he had those in Galatia, to save up money and goods to give to the poor saints at Jerusalem. 45
Afterwards, he went to Macedonia (from whence he wrote Second Corinthians in late C.E. 55). He wrote the Corinthians (two long chapters) about the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem, praising them that even “from before” the Sabbatical Year began with Tishri in C.E. 55, the Corinthians had started to save their money and produce. 46 Then, in late C.E. 55, Paul went on to Corinth, where he wintered with them for three months (Acts 20:3). This is when he wrote his epistle to the Romans, telling them he was soon journeying to Jerusalem to deliver the collections he had secured from Galatia, Macedonia, and Greece.47 The Book of Romans was written in the early spring of C.E. 56. He then left Corinth and went to Ephesus, now telling them it had been three years since he started preaching to them. 48 He got to Jerusalem about Pentecost in C.E. 56 49 approaching the end of the Sabbatical Year.
Why are these chronological data important to know? Because they show that Paul was taking produce and money to Jerusalem to help them through the Sabbatical Year from autumn C.E. 55 to autumn C.E. 56. Not only does this information help us date the times when the epistles of First and Second Corinthians (as well as Romans) were written, but also the evidence helps to confirm the sequence of Sabbatical Years which Professor Wacholder has provided. When the complete ramifications of this chronological subject are recognized, it will be seen how important the proper interpretation of John 4:35–38 really is. Jesus in that verse is talking about a Sabbatical Year. That indication represents a powerful chronological benchmark which can help us identify the years when the festivals took place that John mentioned in his Gospel. When it is realized that the Sabbatical Year of C.E. 27 to C.E. 28 is the first year of Jesus’ ministry, most of the other chronological indications in the Gospels and epistles can make much better sense. It especially denotes that 30 years before this Sabbatical Year, one arrives at 3 B.C.E. for the birth of the Jesus. All makes sense when these things are understood.
The sabbatical year ran from Tishri to Tishri, 54/55 CE. The sequence is confirmed by Josephus. The third month (Sivan) of 37 BCE was "still" a sabbatical year. And Paul didn't return to Jerusalem in 56 CE. He was in the custody of Felix for two years. Festus succeeded Felix in the summer of 55 CE. As Josephus notes, when Felix returned to Rome, some Jews accused him before Caesar. Felix managed to escape punishment by aid of his brother Pallas, who held a great deal of honor and authority. However, Pallas fell out of favor with Nero prior to the Saturnalia of 55 CE. Therefore, Felix's return had to predate December of 55 CE. Ergo, Paul returned in 54 CE, and the two years in the custody of Felix were the calendar years equating to 54 CE and 55 CE.
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