Chronology of the New Testament Period-- Windell Gann 37 - 4 BCHerod the Great is king over all Palestine 6 BC *Jesus is born in Bethlehem
4 BC Jesus’ family flees to Egypt to escape from Herod’s plan to kill Jesus. (Matthew 2:13-18) Herod dies; Judas (of Sepphoris) and others rebel, requiring the Syrian governor Varus to intervene throughout Palestine. Sepphoris, a city four miles from Nazareth, is captured and held by Roman soldiers; Judea, Samaria, and Idumea are given to Herod’s son, Archelaus; Galilee and Perea are given to his son Antipas; Jesus’ family, after returning from Egypt, resides in Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-24)
AD 6Archelaus is exiled for incompetence and cruelty; Judea becomes a Roman province; Judas the Galilean (of Gamla) leads a revolt against the tax census; the governor of Syria, Quirinius (AD 6-7) appoints Annas high priest (6-15) 7/8 *Jesus (age 12) interacts with the teachers in the temple (Luke 2:41-50) 9-12Marus Ambibulus - is appointed Roman governor over Judea
8 - 25/26 *Jesus works as a "tekton" (builder, construction worker) (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). (During AD 6-20, Sepphoris, 4 miles from Nazareth, is booming as the capital of Herod Antipas. in AD 20 Herod Antipas builds a new capital, Tiberius, on shore of the Sea of Galilee) 14-17Valerius Gratus - Roman governor over Judea 14Augustus dies, August 19; Tiberius becomes the Roman Emperior 18-36Caiphas, Jewish high priest of the Sadducee party 26-36Pontius Pilate - Roman governor over Judea 25-26 *John the Baptist is ministering around the Jordan River (John 1:19)
26-27 * Jesus begins his ministry in Judea, and soon focuses his efforts in Galilee. In Jerusalem, Pharisees (like Gamaliel) trains disciples (like Paul) in their tradition. They send a delegation to Galilee, but the delegation rejects Jesus’ teaching. In Alexander, Philo ( 20 BC - AD 50) attempts to unify Greek philosophy with Hebrew Scripture.
30 * Jesus is crucified, and resurrected. James the brother of Jesus become a believer after witnessing the resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7; Acts 12:17) Jesus’ apostles began at Jerusalem on Pentecost proclaiming the gospel of the new covenant (Acts 2:1-47)
32/34 * Paul sees the resurrected Lord on the way to Damascus and is commissioned as an apostles to the Gentiles (Acts 9:1-43; Galatians 1:15-16).
33/35Paul ministers in Damascus and Arabia (Acts 9:19-22; Acts 26:20; Galatians 1:16-18) 36Pilate loses his position for incompetence.
36/37Paul meets with Peter in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-30; Galatians 1:18) 37-41Caligula - Roman Emperor 37-45Paul ministers in Syria, Tarsus, and Cilicia (Acts 9:30; Galatians 1:21) 38/39 *Peter preaches to the Gentile Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48) 39Herod Antipas is exiled. Herod Agrippa I takes over his territory 40-45James write his letter (James) to believers outside Palestine (cf. James 1:1) 41-54Claudius - Roman Emperor
44 Peter leaves Jerusalem; Herod Agrippa I, is killed by an "angel of the Lord" (Acts 12:23)
44-46 Theudas persuades many Jews to sell their possessions and follow him into the wilderness where he claimed he would miraculously divide the Jordan River; Roman procurator Fadus dispatches his cavalry and beheads the would-be messiah.
44-45Paul’s second visit to Jerusalem; time of famine (Acts 11:27-30; Galatians 2:1-10) 46-48Cuspius Fadus - Roman governor over Judea Tiberius Alexander - Roman governor over Judea
46-47 Paul’s First Missionary Journey (with Barnabas) from Antioch to Cyprus, Antioch in Pisida, Iconium, and Lystra (Acts 13:4-52, Acts 14:1-26)
46-48 Roman procurator Tiberius Alexander crucifies two sons (Jacob & Simon) of Judas the Galilean.
48 * Paul writes Galatians, perhaps from Antioch (cf. Acts 14:26-28)
48 /49-51 * Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (with Silas) from Antioch to Syria, Cilicia, southern Galatia, Macedonia, notably Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea; and then on to Achaia, notably Athens and Corinth (Acts 18:2-3)
49 Claudius expels Jews from Rome because of conflicts about Jesus (Acts 18:2); Paul befriends two refugees, Aquila and Priscilla, in Corinth (Acts 18:2-3).
49-51 *Paul writes 1-2 Thessalonians from Corinth (Acts 18:1, Acts 18:11; also cf. Acts 18:5 with 1 Thessalonians 1:8) 51Paul appears before Gallio, proconsul of Achaia (Acts 18:12-17)
52-56 *Paul’s third Missionary Journey from Antioch to Galatia, Phrygia, Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece (Acts 18:23-28, Acts 19:1-41, Acts 20:1-38, Acts 21:1-17) 52Herod Agrippa II takes over territory of Philip II 53-55 *Paul ministers in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20)
53-55 * Matthew writes his gospel. Mark writes his gospel, containing Peter’s messages about Jesus.
Paul writes 1Corinthians from Ephesus (Acts 19:10)
54 Claudius dies (edict exiling Jews repealed); Aquila and Priscilla return to Rome and host a church in their home (cf. Romans 16:3-5)
54 - 68 Nero, at age 19, begins his reign as the Roman Emperor. For 5 years under the guidance of Seneca (54-59) his rule was glorious, but the last 9 were hideous.
55-56 *Paul writes 2Corinthians from Macedonia (Acts 20:1, Acts 20:3; 2 Corinthians 1:16; 2 Corinthians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 7:5, 2 Corinthians 8:1, 2 Corinthians 9:2, 2 Corinthians 9:4; cf. 1 Corinthians 16:5) 55 - 60 *Letter to the Hebrews is written.
56 * Paul winters in Corinth and writes Romans (Acts 20:3; cf. Romans 16:1-2; also Romans 16:23 with 1 Corinthians 1:14) travels to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-16), visits with James the brother of Jesus (Acts 21:17-26), and is arrested (Acts 21:27-36; Acts 22:22-29).
56 - 58 Paul is imprisoned at Caesarea for two years. This gives Luke time to interview eye witnesses and write Luke, his account of the Gospel.
58/59 Paul begins voyage to Rome (Acts 27:1-2); he is shipwrecked for three months on the island of Malta (Acts 27:39-44, Acts 28:1-10).
59-61 * Paul arrives in Rome and remains under house arrest for two years. (Acts 28:16-31). He writes Ephesians, Philippians (Php 1:7, Php 1:13, Php 1:17, Php 4:22); Colossians (Colossians 4:3, Colossians 4:10, Colossians 4:18, cf. Acts 27:2 with Colossians 4:10; Philemon (cf. Philemon 1:23 with Colossians 1:7; Colossians 1:2 with Colossians 4:17; Colossians 1:24 with Colossians 4:10; also cf. Colossians 4:9.)
Luke, Paul’s physician and companion (cf. Colossians 4:14) writes Acts, bringing the reader up-to-date.
61 - 65 The apostle John migrates to Ephesus area (possibly with Jesus’ mother Mary) and writes his gospel (John) and epistles (1-3 John) and the Revelation.
62 James, the brother of the Lord, is executed by the Sadducean high priest Ananus.
62-63Paul is released, extends his mission (perhaps reaching Spain), writes 1Timothy from Macedonia (cf. 1 Timothy 1:3) and Titus from Nicopolis (Titus 3:12); and is re-arrested and in prison at Rome (2 Timothy 1:16-17) 63 - 64The work on the temple complex at Jerusalem is completed.
63/64 *Peter write 1Peter 64July 18th, fire in Rome rages for ten days; Nero blames and puts to death many Christians.
64-65 Paul write 2Timothy (cf. 2 Timothy 4:6-8). Peter writes his second letter (2Peter). Jude write his letter. Paul and Peter are martyred in Rome.
66 The first Jewish Roman War begins with a riot between Greeks and Jews at Caesarea. The Jews in Jerusalem wipe out the Roman garrison there and Gesius Florus surrounds Jerusalem with a Roman army for two weeks and then withdraws (cf. Luke 21:20-21). The Christians in Jerusalem flee to Pella (Matthew 24:15-16; Mark 13:14; Luke 21:20-22).
66 Roman procurator Gesius Florus (AD 64-66) is murdered; Menahem, son or grandson of Judas the Galilean, murders the high priest Ananias and seizes control of the temple; Nero dispatches Vespasian with three legions.
67 Romans destroy the Qumran community, who beforehand hid the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls in nearby caves.
68 Nero (at age 32 ) commits suicide; with his death the family of Julius Caesar perished and the empire becomes the prize of successful soldiers. This is a year of three soldiers contending to become Emperor.
69 Rebellion quelled in Galilee and Samaria by Vespasian, he returns to Rome to become emperor.
70 Aug. 30. Titus, Vespasian’s son, after a five month siege takes Jerusalem. His soldiers desecrate and destroy the temple searching for melted gold between the seams of the stones. The temple’s menorah, Torah, and veil are removed and later put on display in a victory parade in Rome; the influence of the Sadducees ends; the Pharisee Johanan ben Zakkai convinces the Romans to allow him and others to settle in Jamnia, where they found a school.
73 Before the Roman general Silva breaches the fortress atop Masada following a two year siege, 936 Jewish rebels (counting their wives and children) commit suicide.
75 Titus has an affair with the Jewish princess Berenice, sister of Agrippa II (Acts 25:13, Acts 25:23) whom he later abandons because of the scandal.
77 Pliny the Elder write Natural History.
77-78 Josephus publishes his volume called The Jewish War in Rome.
79 Pompeii and Herculaneum are destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvias; Pliny the Elder dies attempting to investigate. Titus succeeds his father as Emperor.
81 The Arch of Titus is erected in Rome celebrating his destruction of the Jewish Temple.
81-96 Domitian, Titus’ brother, persecutes Christians among the Roman nobility, including his own relatives Clemens and Domitilla.
93-94 Josephus publishes his volume Jewish Antiquities in Rome.
"*" denotes approximate date; "/" signifies "either/or"
