New Testament Chronology

20 BCE Herod began to rebuild the Great Temple in Jerusalem in an attempt to restore it to its former splendor.

c. 8 BCE Jesus of Nazareth born in Roman Palestine (by some estimates). 6 Herod the Great deposed by Augustus.

14 - 37 Tiberius I, stepson of Augustus, became emperor of Rome (b. 42 BCE). 18 Roman poet Ovid died. 18

Caiaphas became high priest in Jerusalem (until 36).

c. 24 - 26 Jesus is believed to have begun his ministry.

26 - 36 Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea.

27 - 28 John the Baptist wandered and preached. Jesus would have been baptized. [Luke 3:1-2] (15th year of Tiberius). 28 John the Baptist was executed on orders from Herod Antipas.

c. 30 Jesus of Nazareth is believed to have been crucified in Jerusalem.

c. 31 Saint Stephen became the first Christian martyr when he was stoned to death for blasphemy. One of those present at his execution was the Pharisee Saul.

c. 34-35 Saul of Tarsus, formerly a rabbi and enemy of Christianity, converts to the new Christian faith and became known as Paul. [Acts 9].` 37-40 Paul first visited Jerusalem as a Christian.

37 - 41 Gaius Caligula, nephew of Tiberius, became emperor of Rome and declared himself a god. In the year 41 he would be assassinated and Claudius, a crippled son of Tiberius, would take command. 40 Paul went to Jerusalem to consult with Peter [Gal 1, 18-20].€

40 - 51 Paul traveled to Asia Minor and Cyprus, establishing churches and writing the earliest epistles which would became part of the New Testament canon.

43 Romans under Aulus Plautius invaded Britain. London was founded.

44 James, brother of John, was executed by Herod Agrippa I [Acts 12, 1-3].

47 First recorded use of the term "Christian" occurred in Antioch, Syria, home of one of the earliest Christian churches .

47 - 48 Paul and Barnabas were on Cyprus [Acts 13, 4-12].

48 - 49 Council of Jerusalem, 1st Christian Council, doctrines on circumcision and dietary law was agreed to by apostles and presbyters, written in a letter addressed to "the brothers of Gentile origin in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia" [Acts 15]

c. 49 Paul composed his epistle to the Thessalonians - the earliest known New Testament writing

49 Emperor Claudius ordered all Jewish Christians expelled from Rome.

c. 51 Paul wrote epistle to the Galatians. 54 Empress Agrippina had Emperor Claudius murdered and installed her 16-year-old son Nero as the new emperor.

. 55 Paul wrote epistles to the Corinthians.

c. 55 Peter traveled to Rome where his leadership over the church of Rome established the tradition of the papacy. He has come to be regarded as the first bishop of Rome (pope).

57 Paul's last visit to Jerusalem [Acts 21]. 58 Paul was arrested and imprisoned in Caesarea [Acts 25:4].

58 Emperor Ming-Ti of China introduced Buddhism into his country.

c. 60 Paul wrote the epistle to the Romans.

61 Human sacrifices in religious celebrations were prohibited by Roman law.