This section opens the account of Paul's second journey () which started after an unspecified interval (verse 36), without the formal commissioning ceremony as in the first one and was simply aimed to revisit converts from the previous mission (verse 36). Paul parted ways with Barnabas before the departure (verses 37-39), and Barnabas disappears from the remaining chapters of Acts, although Paul mentions him in his first epistle to the Corinthians (). Silas of Jerusalem (also called Silvanus in Latinized form), who is a 'prophet' and anointed by the Holy Spirit (; like Paul and Barnabas), became Paul's new companion (verse 40). Paul and Silas began the journey through the Taurus Mountains passing Paul's home territory of Cilicia (verse 41), following the route along southern Anatolia (now Turkey) across the Cilician Gates. Later, they evangelized Macedonia and Achaea (; ).