Preparation Years
The Preincarnate Messiah:
Philippians 2:5b-7; John 1:1-5, 10-14; Mark 1:1, commentary.
The World into which Jesus was Born
44 B.C. Julius Caesar assassinated in the Roman Senate on March 15. Marc Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian join forces against Brutus and Cassius.
42 B.C. Battle of Philippi: Defeating Brutus and Cassius, Octavian, Marc Antony, and Lepidus rule as the Second Triumvirate.
40 B.C. Parthians take Jerusalem, slay Phasael and crown Antigonus. Herod escapes to Rome and is crowned by the Senate as King of Judea.
37 B.C. Herod returns and takes Jerusalem, appoints Anael as high priest.
35 B.C. Aristobulus made high priest and puppet king by the Parthians.
32 B.C. Octavian receives the allegiance from Italy and the western provinces.
31 B.C. Battle of Actium: Octavian defeats Antony and Cleopatra, who commit suicide, becoming the virtual ruler of the known world.
6 B.C. Judea annexed by Rome.
The Birth of John and Jesus;
June, 3 B.C. Angelic promise to Zechariah in the Jerusalem Temple; Luke 1:1-25; commentary.
Sept, 3 B.C. Most probable event alerting the Magi of the coming king.
Dec, 3 B. C. Contact of Mary by Gabriel at Nazareth in Galilee; Luke 1:26-38, commentary.
Mary’s visit of Elizabeth in Judea; Luke 1:39-56; commentary.
2 B.C. Year-long celebration of Caesar Augustus’s twenty-fifth year and Rome’s 750th year from its founding. National census and taxation.
March, 2 B.C. Birth of John the Baptist in Judea; Luke 1:57-80, commentary.
Joseph’s decision to divorce Mary quietly; Matthew 1:18-25, commentary.
Sept 11, 2 B.C. Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem during Sukkot (Tabernacles); Luke 2:1-20, commentary.
The genealogy of Jesus, through Joseph and Mary; Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23b-38, commentary.
The Childhood of Jesus 2 B.C.—Spring of 12 A.D.
Sept 9, 2 B.C. The circumcision of Jesus in Bethlehem; Luke 2:21, commentary.
Oct 20, 2 B.C. Mary’s seclusion from childbirth ends; Luke 2:22, commentary.
Late Oct, 2 B.C. Dedication of Jesus; Luke 2:23-39, commentary.
Dec 25, 2 B.C. Approximate date of the visit of the Maji; Matthew 2:1-12, commentary.
^^^ Approximate date of escape into Egypt; Matthew 2:13-18, commentary.
Jan, 1 B.C. Herod’s Death and Joseph’s family’s returns to Nazareth; Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:39b-40, commentary.
Apr 1, 1 B.C. Judea divided among Herod’s sons. Archelaus began his rule before Passover, 1 B.C. Matthias ben Theophilus appointed high priest but shortly deposed.
6 A.D. Judea became a Roman province; Archelaus deposed, Coponius appointed procurator of Judea. Annas appointed high priest by Quirinius, governor of Syria.
9 A.D. Marcus Ambivious appointed procurator of Judea.
12 A.D. Annius Rufus becomes procurator of Judea with the ascension of Tiberius as co-Rex.
Late Mar, 12 A.D. Jesus visits the Temple, most likely at Passover; Luke 2:41-52, commentary.
The Silent Years 12-29 A.D.
Aug 19, 14 A.D. Caesar Augustus dies at Nola at age seventy-five; Tiberius becomes sole ruler of Rome.
15 A.D. Valerius Gratus appointed as procurator of Judea by Tiberius. Ishmael ben Fabus appointed high priest by Valerius Gratus.
16 A.D. Eleasar ben Annas appointed as high priest. Annas’s family regains ascendency.
17 A.D. Simon ben Camith appointed as high priest, the third family competing for the office.
18 A.D. Caiaphas, son-in-law of Annas, appointed as high priest; Annas family recovers power.
26 A.D. Pontius Pilate appointed to replace Valerius Gratus as procurator. May have been a political move by Praetorian Guard, who had taken command two to three years earlier.
Baptism and Ministry Preparation of Jesus Summer of 29 A.D.
April, 29 A.D. John begins his ministry after Passover; Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:2-8, Luke 3:1-18; John 1:6-18; commentary.
July, 29 A.D. Baptism of Jesus at “about thirty;” Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-23, commentary.
Forty-day temptation of Jesus; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13, commentary.
Aug, 29 A.D. John challenged by the priests at Bethany, on the Jordan River; John 1:19-28, commentary.
John publicly proclaims Jesus as Messiah; John 1:29-34, commentary.
Jesus’s first six followers; John 1:35-51, commentary.
The Wedding in Cana, Galilee; John 2:1-11, commentary.
Jesus’s Ministry Initiated Fall 29 A.D.—Fall 30 A.D.
Fall, 29 A.D. Jesus’s ministry Initiated; Luke 4:14-15, John 2:12, commentary.
April, 30 A.D. The first cleansing of the Temple at Jerusalem; John 2:13-25, commentary.
The conversion of Nicodemus; John 3:1-21, commentary.
Summer, 30 A.D. Jesus visits John’s area of ministry in the southern Jordan Valley and faces opposition; John 3:22-4:2, commentary.
Fall, 30 A.D. Jesus leaves southern Jordan Valley at John’s arrest; Matthew 4:12, Mark 1:14, Luke 3:19-20, John 4:3, commentary.
Samaritan ministry at Sychar, Samaria, enroute to the Galilee; John 4:4-42, commentary.
Jesus returns to the Galilee; John 4:43-44, commentary.
Jesus visits Cana and heals an official’s son; John 4:45-54, commentary.
Jesus rejected at Nazareth; Luke 4:16-31a, commentary.
Fall-Winter, 30 A.D. Jesus moves his headquarters to Capernaum; Matthew 4:13-16, commentary.
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