1. "AD" - Ano Domini (the year of our Lord)
2. In 525AD, "BC" and "AD" were used for the first time. Most conservative scholars believe that Jesus was born in 4BC.
a. Based on Josephus and others, Herod probably died in March or April, 4BC. This was based on an eclipse noted by Josephus.
b. Based on decrees and other things, Jesus could not have been born before 7 or 8BC.
3. When did He begin His ministry? 26AD or 27AD.
a. Fifteenth year of Tiberius - Tiberius started about 11AD as co-ruler with Caesar Augustus and began his total rule three years later.
b. In Luke, Chapter Three, it says he was about thirty.
4. How long did He minister?
a. Synoptic Gospels view Christ from almost the same perspective (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).
b. The Gospel of John was written much later than the other three and is not synoptic.
1. Three passovers in the Gospel of John, which leads to a three to four year ministry.
2. Approximately, thirty-three when He died
5. The Day of the Crucifixion
a. Matthew 12:40-41 about (Jonah) three days suggests maybe Wednesday
b. Thursday view is compromise view (John => high Holy day)
c. Friday (Luke, Chapter Twenty-three) - Women watched where His body was laid. They went and rested according to the commandment on Saturday.
d. Luke is good on chronology
e. Luke, Chapter Twenty-four, talks about the Road to Emmaus.
6. The best information says that the Crucifixion occurred in 29-33AD.
7. Chronology of Acts - church persecution may have been in part because of a rebellion to Acts 1:8 ("But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.").
a. Key dates - death of Herod Agrippa I (lived until 44AD (set Acts, Chapter Twelve))
b. Josephus says he died in the seventh year of his reign
c. We can date Acts, Chapter Twelve, to 44AD
d. Famine under Claudius (46AD from Roman History (Acts, Chapter Eleven))
e. Galleo was procounsel of Acadia (lower Greece). Sir William Ramsey credited Luke with historical accuracy. Ramsey found on plaque that Galleo was at Acadia in 51-52AD.
f. Festus (58-60AD)
8. Conversion of Paul - not before crucifixion, probably two to three years after. According to Galatians 1:18 ("Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. "), he went to Jerusalem three years after his conversion. Famine visit of 46AD or Council visit 49AD (Acts, Chapter Fifteen). These visits cause a couple of different views, but probably saved in 32AD.
9. Paul's journies and epistles
a. Acts 13-14: (47-48AD - first journey) to AILD, Cyprus, Galatia (Turkey - Asia Minor)
b. Acts 15: 49AD (Jerusalem Council)
c. Acts 16-18: (50-52AD - second journey) to Galatia (DLIA)
d. Third Journey (53-57AD)
e. Jerusalem was higher evaluation than any place else
f. Third journey (DLIAE) lasted three years
g. Romans was written from Corinth
h. Philemon, Colosse (Philemon lived there), Ephesus (on the way to Colosse), Philippians (prison epistles)
Tom of Bethany "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
Lesson 9 - New Testament Biblical Archaeology
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