Timeline of the New Testament

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The New Testament Timeline

This is a timeline and table of the events in the New Testament. The dates cited are the broadest accepted by modern scholars. In my podcast I use 33 AD as the date of Jesus' death, rather than the other popular scholarly choice of 30 AD. Many other dates follow from that.

You should note that the Book of Acts, on the one hand; and Paul's letters, on the other, have irreconcilable accounts of his history. Someone is telling fibs!

Event	Consensus Range of Dates	NT	Notes
Birth of Jesus	Before 4 BC	Mt 2:1	Before the death of Herod the Great
Birth of Paul	Before 4 BC		Based on comments by Jerome.
Herod the Great dies	4 BC
Tiberius emperor	14		Accession of Tiberius.
John the Baptist commences his ministry	26–29	Luke 3:1–2	Luke says the 15th year of Tiberius. Tiberius co-ruled with Augustus in 11, and became sole ruler in 14.
Jesus' commences his ministry	26–30		Best scholary consensus.
Jesus' crucifixion	30 or 33		Calculated from the day of Passover being a Friday in that year.
Death of St Stephen	30–34	Acts 7:54	Stoned by the Jews. First Christian martyr.
Apostles flee Jerusalem	30–34	Acts 8	After Stephen's death.
Paul's call	31–34	Acts 9	A year or two after Jesus' death.
Paul in Nabatea, then in Damascus	34–36	2 Cor 11:33, Gal 1:17	Escapes from Damascus to Jerusalem. Not mentioned in Acts.
Paul's 1st visit to Jerusalem	35–36	Acts 9:26–30, Gal 1:18	Stays with Peter for two weeks, meeting no one else save James. Acts only: Barnabas supports Paul. Paul packed off to Tarsus in Cilicia.
Paul's mission to the Jews in Syria and Cilicia	36–45?	Gal 1:21–2:1	Either 14 or 17 years. Cannot be reconciled with Acts.
Caligula emperor	37		Accession of Caligula.
Paul's 1st mission: Antioch	40–45	Acts 11, 13–14	Barnabas summons Paul for a mission to Antioch. One year in Antioch. Paul's first foundation. Not mentioned in the letters. Letter: 1 Thessalonians?
Claudius emperor	41		Accession of Claudius.
Herod Agrippa I made King of Judea, Galilee, Peraea and Samaria	41		Friend of Claudius. Roman direct rule ceases in these areas.
Peter preaches to the gentiles in Judea	42?	Acts 10–11	Conversion of Cornelius. Peter justifies the gentile mission to the other disciples.
Peter arrested by Herod Agrippa I.	42–44	Acts 12	He escapes miraculously. Last major story about Peter in Acts.
Death of James the Greater	42–44	Acts 12	Executed by Herod Agrippa I. First disciple to be martyred.
Herod Agrippa I dies	44	Acts 12:20	Romans assume direct rule of Jewish territories.
Paul's 2nd visit to Jerusalem (Acts)	?	Acts 11:30, Gal 2:1-10?	Brings alms from Antioch. Cannot be reconciled with the letters.
Council of Jerusalem. Paul's 3rd visit to Jerusalem (Acts).	47–50	Acts 15:4, Gal 2:1-10?	According to Galatians, Paul's 2nd visit, after 14–17 years absence from Jerusalem. Last appearance of Peter as leader. College of apostles now reduced to a troika of James the Just (its head), Peter (who bows to James' wishes), and the apostle John.
Antioch incident	49–50	Acts 15:36, Gal 2:11	Paul vs Peter. Paul and Barnabas disagree and separate.
Claudius expels Jews from Rome	49
Paul's 2nd mission: Based at Corinth in Greece	50–52	Acts 16–18,	Established by an inscription of the Roman governor Gallio (51–52). 18 months in Corinth. Paul leaves to avoid a trial before the incoming proconsul. Letter: 1 Thessalonians?
Paul's 4th visit to Jerusalem	52	Acts 18:22	Brief salutation visit. Not mentioned in Paul's letters.
Herod Agrippa II accedes	53–55		Granted various Jewish territories and control over the Temple, at first by Claudius, and then by Nero.
Paul's 3rd mission: Based at Ephesus in Asia	53–55	Acts 19, 2 Cor 1:18	Three years in Ephesus. His imprisonment in Ephesus inferred from 2 Cor 1:18. Letters: Galatians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, perhaps Romans.
Nero emperor	54		Accession of Nero.
Peter in Rome	54–58/63?		Traditional dating.
Paul's 5th visit to Jerusalem.	57	Acts 19:21–23:31	Arrest in Jerusalem. According to his letters, Paul's 3rd visit.
Paul imprisoned in Caesarea	57–59	Acts 23–26	Tried by governor Marcus Antonius Felix. After two years of imprisonment, a second trial before governor Porcius Festus and Herod Agrippa II. Committed to stand for a third trial in Rome. Letter: Philemon?
Paul journeys to Rome for his trial	59–60	Acts 27–28	Shipwrecked on Malta.
Paul imprisoned in Rome	60–62	Acts 28	House arrest for two years. Letters: Phillipians, maybe Philemon.
Death of James the Just	62		Stoned to death by the high priest.
Paul's release from Rome, mission to Spain, and return to Roman imprisonment.	?	1 Clem 5:7	Suggested in a letter of Clement and by some other early Church fathers.
Death of Paul	62–63		Traditional dating.
Death of Peter	64–68		Traditional dating. Neronian persecution.