Timeline: New Testament Timeline

96 BCE

Nerva, the first of five “good” emperors, ends official persecution

96–98 Nerva, the first of five “good” emperors, ends official persecution

95 BCE

Amidst persecution, Clement, a leader in the Roman church, writes his Letter to the Corinthians.

Amidst persecution, Clement, a leader in the Roman church, writes his Letter to the Corinthians (1 Clement) appealing for peace between the young men and elders.

93 BCE

Josephus publishes Jewish Antiquities in Rome.

93–94 Josephus publishes Jewish Antiquities in Rome.

81 BCE

The Arch of Titus

The Arch of Titus, celebrating his destruction of the temple, is erected in Rome.

75 BCE

Titus has an affair with the Jewish princess Berenice, sister of Agrippa II

Titus has an affair with the Jewish princess Berenice, sister of Agrippa II (Acts 25:13, 23), whom he later abandons because of the scandal.

70 BCE

itus, Vespasian's son, after a five‐month siege of Jerusalem, destroys the temple after desecrating it.

Titus, Vespasian's son, after a five‐month siege of Jerusalem, destroys the temple after desecrating it; 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 escapes and convinces the Romans to allow him and others to settle in Jamnia, where they found a school.

66 BCE

First Jewish‐Roman War begins with a riot between Greeks and Jews.

First Jewish‐Roman War begins with a riot between Greeks and Jews at Caesarea; Roman procurator Gesius Florus (A.D. 64–66) is murdered and a Roman garrison wiped out; 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.

62 BCE

Paul is released, extends his mission

Paul is released, extends his mission (probably reaching Spain), writes 1 Timothy from Macedonia (cf. 1 Tim. 1:3) and Titus from Nicopolis (Titus 3:12); he is rearrested in
Rome (2 Tim. 1:16–17).

60 BCE

Paul begins voyage to Rome

Paul begins voyage to Rome (Acts 27:1–2); he is shipwrecked for three months on the island of Malta (Acts 27:39–28:10).

57 BCE

Paul winters in Corinth and writes Romans

Paul winters in Corinth and writes Romans (Acts 20:3; cf. Rom. 16:1–2; also cf. Rom. 16:23 with 1 Cor. 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; 22:22–29).

48 BCE

Paul and Peter return to Jerusalem for the Apostolic Council

Paul and Peter return to Jerusalem for the Apostolic Council, which, with the assistance of James, frees Gentile believers from the requirement of circumcision in opposition to Pharisaic believers (Acts 15:1–29); Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch (Acts 15:30) but
split over a dispute about John Mark (Acts 15:36–40).

44 BCE

Paul's Second Visit to Jerusalem; time of famine (Acts 11:27–30; Gal. 2:1–10)

34 BCE

Paul witnesses the resurrected Lord

Paul witnesses the resurrected Lord on the way to Damascus and is commissioned as an apostle to the nations (Acts 9; Gal. 1:15–16).

33 BCE

Jesus returns to Judea, is crucified, and resurrected

Jesus returns to Judea, is crucified, and resurrected. James the brother of Jesus becomes a believer after witnessing the resurrected Jesus (1 Cor. 15:7; Acts 12:17). Jesus ascends to the Father's right hand (Acts 1). Jesus' first followers receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and begin to proclaim the gospel (Acts 2).

28 BCE

Jesus begins his ministry in Judea

Jesus begins his ministry in Judea, but soon focuses his efforts in Galilee. In Jerusalem, Pharisees (like Gamaliel) train disciples (like Paul) in their tradition. They send a delegation to Galilee, but the delegation rejects Jesus' teaching. In Alexandria, Philo (20
B.C.–A.D. 50) attempts to unify Greek philosophy with Hebrew Scripture.

8 BCE