CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT THE

CHRONOLOGY OF THE LIFE OF THE

LORD JESUS CHRIST
By Saint John the Christodox
18.02.2015, Braov, Romania
partbv@gmail.com
In an attempt to establish a chronology of the earthly life of Jesus, it is
necessary to take into consideration the historical proofs and biblical truth,
but at the same time it is important to avoid traditionalist prejudice, which
exists towards certain historical aspects. Here are some of these
prejudices:
1. Jesus was born in the month of December, around the day of 25th
December;
2. In the year of His crucifixion, the Sabbath of the Passover (the
Feast of the Unleavened Bread) had coincided with the weekly Sabbath;
3. The triumphant entry in Jerusalem took place on a Sunday
morning; The Ressurection took place on a Sunday morning.
4. Magi came at the birth of Jesus.
The current chronologies, apart from the historical mismatches, dont
answer a few biblical questions, such as:
1. Is it plausible doing a baptism in the Jordan river in the month of
January, as it is presumed that's when Jesus was baptized?
2. Why did king Herod kill children who had below the ages of 2
years, and not just the ones with ages below of 1 year?
3. How did Jesus fulfil His promise of being with the thief (the
criminal/ malefactor who was crucified besides Him) in Heaven in the
same day, when in that day He went in Hades carrying our sins, and the
third day, after the resurrection, He told Mary Magdalene that He had not
ascended yet to the Father?
4. How did Jesus stay three days and three nights in the grave, if He
was buried Friday evening and resurrected Sunday morning?

5. What is the meaning of Isaiahs 61:2 prophecy mentioned in Luke

4:18-19, according to which Jesus announces the year of mercy of the
Lord; which year does He refer to?
Another aspect we should take into account, is the calendar of God,
expressed in the Jewish calendar marked by the celebrations (Feasts) He
established and which surely have a prophetic meaning.

The beginning of Jesus ministry

We will start by setting the year when Jesus began to
minister, to conclude then, the year of His birth.
1. Jesus had about 30 years when He began His ministry (Lk
3:23);
2. The minimum age for a public service in Israel was 30 years old.
D1. From here we conclude that when He began His ministry, Jesus
had already 30 years, and probably He had not reached 31 years.
3. The public ministry of Jesus began right after His baptism;
4. After several months of service, at the first Passover from the start
of His service, a statement was made that Forty and six years was this
temple in building (John 2:19-20). This means that 46 years had
passed from the beginning of the reconstruction until the reconstruction
phase in which the Temple was in that moment.
5. Herod began the reconstruction of the temple of Jerusalem in the
year of 20 (Before Christian Era = BCE)
D2. From here we conclude that in the year of 27 (Christian Era =
CE) took place that first Passover.
D3. Another conclusion is that the year when His ministry began, or
the year of His baptism, took place one year before, namely in 26 CE.
D4. Taking into consideration that He was almost 31 years old, we
can calculate his birth year, which is 6 BCE.
Correlations:
Daniels prophecies
a. The prophet Daniel prophesied that from the going forth of the
commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the
2

Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks... (Daniel
9:25).
b. We will count the year of the going forth of the commandment for
the spiritual restoration of Jerusalem, namely 458 BCE (Ezra chap 7).
If we were to consider the years of the physical reconstruction of the
Temple: through Zerubbabel (536 BCE) would lead us to the Year of the
Anointed one in 53 BCE; and the year of the reconstruction through
Jeremiah (445 BCE) would lead us to the Year of the Anointed one in 39
CE , none of which correlate with the historical and biblical data.
c. The time until Christs arrival is of seven weeks and sixty two
weeks, in total 69 weeks. These are weeks of years, not of days, which
give a total of 69x7= 483 years.
D: Calculating 483 years starting from year 458 BCE we get year 26
CE, which equals the year when Jesus began His ministry.
2. John the Baptist, began his ministry while Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judaea (Lk 3:1). Historical data show that Pontius
Pilate was roman governor of Judaea in the period of 26-36 CE. The year
26 CE, in which John the Baptist begins his ministry, is also, the first year
of prosecution of Pontius Pilate.
3. Jesus began to preach in the same year with John the
Baptist, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Lk 3:1).
Tiberius began his reign on 19th august year 14 CE, being co-reigner with
Octavian Augustus still from the year of 12 CE. If we take into
consideration this last data concerning the day of co-reigning of the
Roman Empire beginning in the year of 12 CE, it results that the time
Jesus began his activity of preaching is the year of 26 CE.
4. Macrobius (aproximately 400 CE), one of the last pagan
writers of Rome, in his work, Saturnalia, wrote about the killing of children
below the ages of 2 years, which was one of the last, if not even the last
brutal crimes of Herod, before his death (4 BCE). This reference about
killing the children shows that this fact was well known in the time of
Macrobius and that it wasnt contested by the pagan nations1.
5. Historians establish the date of Herod the Greats death
around 12 March 4 BCE when it was a moon eclipse. Thereby, Jesus
could not have been born after this date.
Source: Ioan Lucian Radu. Uciderea pruncilor din Betleem: mit sau realitate
istoric?.basilica.ro
1

The birth of the Saviour

Let us identify now the period of the birth of the Saviour in
the year of 6 BCE
1. Biblical historians claim that 1446 BCE is the year of exiting Egipt
with Moses, and 1406 BCE is the year of entering Canaan with
Joshua;
2. Starting with this year the Hebrew feasts commanded by God
(Leviticus 23 and 25) come into force, including also the year of
jubilee;
3. The year of jubilee took place every 50 years;
D1: thus we conclude that the year 6 BCE, was a year of Jubilee
(1400 years= 28X50 years, and 1406-1400=6)
4. Historians claim that a census began throughout the Roman
Empire:
After the Gospel of Luke (2: 1-2), the Saviour was born in the Holy
Nation during the conduct of a census, commanded by the Roman
emperor Octavian August (27 CE 14 CE), and "while Quirinius was
governor of Syria" , time during which the title of imperial governor of
the Province of Syria - which also included the kingdom of Herod - was
occupied by Publius Sulpicius Quirinius.
Augustus's famous autobiographical inscription on the temple at
Ancyra, Ankara of today, attests that during his reign, three censuses
were conducted, one of which is attested in Gaul in 12 BCE, and another
in the Holy Land year 6-8 CE mentioned by Joseph Flavius.
In this respect, there may be a mismatch between the Gospel of Luke
and Josephus story, which is admitting that the Holy Land held a
census, but between 6-8 CE, after the dismissal of Archelaus, son of
Herod the Great , back when Quirinius was governor of Syria, who met
a resistance because of this, which was led by Judas the Galilean (Acts 5,
37). Like Herod, Quirinus was a historical figure known with certainty
that he was appointed governor of Syria in 6 CE, at an interval of 10
years from the death of Herod.

However, there should be another census, more than ten years

before, in the time of Herods reign, to be in concordance with the Gospel
accounts, as the recognized historical accuracy of St. Luke the Evangelist
suggests that it was based on reliable data when speaking of this census.
In this respect, based on inscriptions found in Tivoli, Italy, and
Antioch of Pisidia, southern Asia Minor, it was proven that Quirinius
was governor of Syria also during 4-1 BCE, but also more importantly,
that even before that, during BCE 10-8, he conducted a census in
Palestine. On the other hand, Christian writer Tertullian attributes the
census which St. Luke speaks of, to Sentius Saturninus, governor of Syria
between 8 and 6 BCE. This apparent contradiction is resolved by the
words of St. Luke: "The first entry was made while Quirinius was
governing Syria (1: 2). The term "first" of the evangelists expression
suggests that, the registry which he refers to - the one which righteous
Joseph and St. Mary took part in isnt actually the first census, but is a
continuation of the census of Quirinius initiated a few years before, so
that it remains plausible to date the birth of the Lord between years 7-6
BCE.2
5. It was easier to do a census in a year of Jubilee, because families
gathered together to recover their lands. It is thus very likely for
this year to have been chosen for a census.
It may be that the census was organized to be exactly during an
occasion of celebration, because apparently there was a Roman practice
of realizing such censuses especially on occasions of celebration specific
to each nation. For example, a document by the year of 104 mentions
such a census in Egypt, where all residents were required to return to
their home cities, event that occurred during a popular festival. Then the
Roman practice shows, that they preferred not to fix censuses during
winter, because the roads became impracticable and the movement of
people was slow.3

Streza, Dan Alexandru, Dr.. Consideraii istorice privind data naterii

Domnului. www.revistateologica.ro
3. Necula, Marius. Cnd s-a nscut Iisus?. http://necula.info/cand-s-a-nascutiisus/
2

6. The Year of Jubilee, as a new year, began together with the Feast
of Trumpets (1 Tishri) and was celebrated on the Day of
Atonement (10 Tishri) according to Leviticus 25: 9-10
D2: Considering that the census was held with the occasion of this
holiday, we are entitled to consider the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ
as the Day of Atonement of that year, namely Wednesday, September
22 year 6 BCE (10 Tishri 3756 Heb)
This would have at least two symbolic meanings:
a) Jesus as High Priest entered His tent (His body) to minister on the
Day of Atonement
b) Explains the phrase "to proclaim the year of mercy (of joy) of the
Lord" Luke 4:19, Isaiah 61.2. The original greek word for the year
of "mercy" can also mean year of "pleasure", approval or joy. In
other words, it says that the year of liberation, redemption came
through the birth of the Saviour, year of jubilee being the year in
which the slaves were freed.

The baptism of Jesus

1. Jesus would have turned 31 years old on 10 Tishri 3787, in other
words on October 9, 26 CE.
2. Considering that at the time of His baptism Jesus was not yet 31 years
old, this means that he was baptized before October 9, 26 CE. We can
appreciate the baptism date somewhere in late September and early
October, which is a realistic period for a baptism. I doubt that in
January John was still doing baptisms in the Jordan River.
D: Given the meanings it is, I believe, justified to assume the baptism date
the day of 1 Tishri 3787, the Feast of Trumpets (meaning September 30
year 26 CE.), for at His baptism the voice of God was heard from heaven,
which had not been heard since the time of Moses.
Moses prophesied that after his death, God will send to the Hebrews
a prophet "like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken" (Deut 18:15-16; Acts
3:22)
In the Gospels we are told that on three occasions the voice of the
heavenly Father was heard: first at the baptism of Jesus(Mt 3:17), then at
6

the mount of transfiguration (Lk 9:35) and finally at the Temple, before
the last Passover (Jn 12:28)
The date of 1 Tishri 3787 marks the beginning of a new year (Hebrew
New Year); the baptism of Jesus in this day is associated with the
beginning of a new period in the history of the Jews and of all mankind.

Correlations:
From the date of birth (09/22/06 BCE meaning 10 Tishri 3756) and
until the first Passover (14 Nissan 3787 that is 04/09/27 CE) are about 31
years and 6 months.
From the date of the baptism, until the first Passover (April 9 to 16,
year 27) are approximately 6 months.
Given that His crucifixion took place on the occasion of the 4th
Easter, His ministry took place for 3 and a half years.

The date of birth of John the Baptist

Elizabeth, mother of John, was a cousin of St. Mary and the wife of
the priest Zechariah, who was part of the" priesthood "of Abijah (Jewish
priests were divided into 24 "companies" and each company served at
the Temple for one week, from one sabbath to another). When the
Temple was destroyed by the Romans on August 5, year 70 CE, the first
company of priests had just taken on the service. Since the company of
Abijah was the eighth company, we can go back to calculate when
Zacharias served.4
If I calculated correctly, Zechariah ended his service on 23
May, year 7 BCE. Given that Elizabeth conceived "after some time",
probably in the next month, we can estimate the birth of John the Baptist,
after nine months in March of 6 BCE, somewhere between March 3 (Feast
of Esther / Purim) and 3 April (Passover Feast).
Bogdan Mateciuc Cnd s-a nscut Domnul Iisus Hristos?.
www.odaiadesus.ro/nastere.html
4

Correlations:
John the Baptist being born in March, and Jesus in September, we
see that the difference in age between them, resulting from the calculation,
is of 6 months; which corresponds to the biblical account (Lk 1:26).
Considering that the shift to serving in Zacharia's family, came every
6 months, more precisely every 24 weeks, an artificial "matching" date
would be difficult.

The Magi
8 days after the birth of Jesus, the child was circumcised; then a
month later He was taken to the temple where Simeon and Anna
prophesied over Him; then Joseph, Mary and the child returned to
Nazareth. (Luke 2: 21-38)
This means that Joseph and Mary stood about a month in
Bethlehem.
From here it follows that the Magi did not come at His birth, because
immediately after the arrival of the Magi, the family hurried towards
Egypt.
However, the Magi met the child in Bethlehem. How was this
possible?
In Israel there were 3 holidays to which people came to the Temple,
Passover and Pentecost in the spring and in the autumn the Feast of
Tabernacles.
We can assume that the Magi arrived in one of those occasions when
Joseph's family came to the temple. It is realistic to believe that Joseph,
Mary and the child visited or even lived in Bethlehem at a family who
hosted them (a period of) after His birth, until their departure back to
Nazareth.
Herod must have had a reason to kill all children aged up to 2 years,
not just those under the age of one year; so it is plausible to consider that
about a year had passed since His birth, and that the visit of the Magi took
place on the Feast of Tabernacles.
8

The Feast of Tabernacles was held on 15-21 Tishri 3757 (10/16/0510/23/05 BCE) in other words a few days after Jesus turning one year old
(10 Tishri 3757).
Because more than a year had passed since the birth of the "King of
the Jews", Herod, to be sure, ordered the killing of all infants aged up to 2
years.
From this date until Herod's death in March 4 BCE are
approximately 5 months, which correlates with all the other events.

Year of crucifixion
Considering that the first Easter Jesus has attended was in the year
27 CE, (when He was aged 31 years and 6 months) and that He was
crucified also during an Easter, three years later, we can conclude that the
year of crucifixion is 30 CE. A simple calculation shows that at the date of
crucifixion Jesus was aged 34 years and 6 months.
Jews have two kinds of Sabbaths: weekly Sabbath Sabbaths and
Sabbaths of certain holidays.
The Feast of Passover itself contains 3 holidays and lasts 8 days
between 14-21 Nissan as it follows:
- 14 Nissan is on Passover.
- In 15 Nissan begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread which begins with
a day of Sabbath (starts at 14 Nissan evening 6 pm until 15 Nissan
evening 6 pm).
- In 16 Nissan is the feast of the firstfruits(the day of waving the sheaf).
It all ends with another Sabbath in 21 Nissan.
It was assumed that in the year of crucifixion, the Sabbath of
Unleavened Bread coincided with the weekly Sabbath.

Here is the schedule for that period of time:5

Year CE,
month
26, month
April

Nissan, 14
Friday ,
04/19/26

27, month
April
28, month
April
29, month
April

Wednesday,
04/09/27
Monday,
04/26/28
Saturday,
04/16/29

Nissan, 15
Passover Sabbath

Saturday,
04/20/26

Nissan 16
First-fruits Feast
Sunday,
04/21/26

Weekly Sabbath

Thursday,
04/10/27
Tuesday,
04/27/28
Sunday,
04/17/29

Friday ,
04/11/27
Wednesday,
04/28/28
Monday,
04/18/29

Thursday,
04/06/30
Thursday,
04/26/31
Tuesday,
04/15/32
Saturday,
04/04/33

Friday ,
04/07/30
Friday ,
04/27/31
Wednesday,
04/16/32
Sunday,
04/05/33

Weekly Sabbath

30, month
April
31, month
April
32, month
April
33, month
April

Wednesday,
04/05/30
Wednesday,
04/25/31
Monday,
04/14/32
Friday ,
04/03/33

Weekly Sabbath

34, month
April

Wednesday,
04/21/34

Thursday,
04/22/34

Friday ,
04/23/34

Because, in this period, only in the years of 26 CE and 33 CE Easter

Sabbath overlaps weekly Sabbath, researchers have tried to adjust the
chronology of the life of Jesus to these data.
Year 26 doesnt correspond to historical evidence:
If Jesus was crucified in Year 26, it would have meant that the first
Easter was at the Year 22 CE, and John would have started ministry in
Year 21 CE. John could not start so soon, because he began his activity
"when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea" (Lk 3, 1). Pontius Pilate
was in function only at the beginning of Year 26 CE.
5

Source: http://www.cgsf.org/dbeattie/calendar/?roman=26

10

Year 33 doesnt correspond to historical evidence:

If Jesus was crucified in 33 CE and His ministry would have started
in 29 CE, this would mean that He should have been born in year 2 BCE,
in other words after Herod's death, which took place in 4 BCE.
Thus, none of these years do not meet the historical requirements.
Other researchers assume that there were two Sabbaths that week on
consecutive days, Friday and Saturday namely, but this does not appear in
any year of the period.
As noted, the above calculations lead to the crucifixion
date of Year 30 CE.
In that year, there were two Sabbaths in the crucifixion week, on
Thursday 6 April Passover Sabbath, and Saturday 8 April, the weekly
Sabbath.
In this case, how did the events take place in the last week of the
earthly life of Jesus?

The last week

SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
03/31/30

SATURDAY
04/01/30

EVENTS
The journey from Jericho to Bethany took place 6 days before the
Passover (John 12: 1). Jericho was at a greater distance (from
Bethany) than a jew was allowed to travel on a Sabbath Day, so as
a faithful Jew, Jesus could not make this trip on a Saturday.
The journey was made Friday , 31, keeping in mind that the
Passover was Thursday 6 April 30 CE, 6 days after
The weekly Sabbath begins at 6 pm
Lazarus gives a Sabbath meal.
Sabbath until 6 pm.
The triumphal entry into Jerusalem was the day after His arrival
at Bethany (John 12.12)
Because Bethany is located about 2.7 kilometers from Jerusalem,
which is about 30 minutes away on foot, longer than a Sabbath
road (960 m), this trip could not be done in the morning, but it
was done in the evening, after end of the Sabbath.
When he approached Jerusalem Jesus wept over the city.

11

SUNDAY
04/02/30
MONDAY
04/03/30

TUESDAY
04/04/30

WEDNESDAY
04/05/30
14
Nissan
3790

At the temple He just watched without doing anything because it

was evening, and returned to Bethany (Mark 11:11)
Cursing the fig tree
The second cleansing of the Temple
Return to Bethany
The fig tree found dried
The last public sermon of Jesus in the Temple
dating of the crucifixion
The prophecy concerning the end
Teachings on the Mount of Olives
Return to Bethany.
Anointing by Mary in the house of Simon the Leper
Preparation of the Passover in the upper room. In Mt 26:17
"protos" can also mean "before" not only "first" (see also John
1:15, 30; 2Pet 2:20; Mt 12:45)
Passover Dinner
Washing of the Feet
Discovering the seller
Establishment of the Supper
Last lessons for disciples
Notification of Peter's denial and betrayal of others
Going to the Mount of Olives
Prayer on the Mount of Olives
The agony in Gethsemane
Catching of Jesus
Jesus at Annas and Caiaphas
Condemnation of the Sanhedrin
Suicide of Judas
Jesus at Pilate and Herod
Jesus condemned
Crucifixion
Saving the thief on the cross
The death of Jesus confirmed
Burial
Begining of the Sabbath of Passover

12

THURSDAY
04/06/30
15
Nissan
3790

FRIDAY
04/07/30
16
Nissan
3790

SATURDAY
8 April 30

SUNDAY
9
April 30 CE

Sabbath of Passover
At the end of the day of Thursday and the beginning of
Sabbath day Friday, the Feast of firstfruits (in other words
Thursday evening around 6 pm) Jesus was resurrected in
spirit and passed from the "prison Hades" into "Abraham's
bosom" or "paradeisos" which is heaven, where he met ("the
same day)" with the cruxified thief whom He forgave (Luke
23:43).
Then, once raised, He went to preach to the spirits in prison of
Hades, as Peter says: He was killed in the flesh, but made alive in
the in spirit in which he went and preached unto the spirits in
prison, 1Peter 3: 18,19
It is significant the fact that Jesus rose during the feast of
firstfruits. (1 Corinthians 15:23)
Having passed the Sabbath Day, Mary Magdalene, Mary the
mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might
come and anoint him. (Mark 16: 1)
Friday, the day between the two Sabbaths, the multitude
participated in the feast of firstfruits (the day of waving the sheaf).
Friday morning the women bought spices, then attended the
celebration and in the evening, after the feast, they prepared
them.
Then, at 6 pm started The weekly Sabbath.
Weekly Sabbath
The declaration of the resurrection was made only Sunday
morning, but the body of Jesus was transformed into glorified
body on the evening of Saturday, when His spirit entered him,
after reaching the 3 days and 3 nights;
At the end of the Sabbaths, when it began to dawn toward
the first Day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
and others with them, came to see the tomb.
In Mt 28: 1 in the original "Sabbath" is plural, in other words
"Sabbath" or "Sabbaths", which confirms the fact that there
were two Sabbaths that week.
The women come to the tomb with spices bought Friday. They
could not buy them at Sunday dawn, then go home to prepare
them, and then go to the tomb "while it was still dark."
The declaration of resurrection
Peter comes to the tomb
Jesus appears to Mary Magdalena

13

In the next 40
days
After 40 days
After another
10 days

Jesus appeared to the disciples on the way to Emmaus

Jesus shows Himself to the 12
Teachings concerning the kingdom of God
The Ascension
Descent of the Holy Ghost

Holidays of the Old Covenant in the New

Covenant
It is remarkable to see the fulfillment of the Old Testament holidays in the
New Testament:
1. Old Testament Passover= the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus
Christ
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread = Burial of Lord Jesus
3. Day of the first fruits(day of waving the sheaf) = resurrection of the
Lord Jesus in spirit
4. Pentecost = Descent of the Holy Ghost
5. Year of jubilee= Year of birth of the Lord Jesus
6. Day Atonement = Day of birth of the Lord Jesus
7. Feast of Trumpets = The Baptism of Jesus
What remains to be fulfilled is the Feast of the Tabernacles.
Jews and nations have the same holidays and I believe that they
should be celebrated simultaneously and after the Jewish calendar, which
is the calendar of God; this is expected in Scripture referring to the Feast of
Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16).

14

TIMELINE
3754

8 BCE
7 BCE
May, 7 BCE. Announcing the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah

3755

3756

December, 7 BCE. Announcing the birth of Jesus to Mary

March 6 BCE. Birth of John the Baptist.
Announcing the birth of Jesus to Joseph

6 BCE

10 Tishri 3756 meaning 09/22/06 BCE. Birth of Jesus

5 BCE

3757

15-21 Tishri 3757 meaning 10/16/05 - 10/23/05 BCE. The coming of

the Magi; Flight to Egipt; Killing of the infants
March, 4 BCE. Herod the Great dies

4 BCE

3758
3 BCE

3759
2 BCE

3760
1 BCE

3761
1 CE

3762
2 CE

3763
3

3764
4

3765

15

3766
6

3767
7

3768

3785
3786

3787

Passover 04/9/08/ - 04/16/08 CE. Jesus in the Temple at 12 years old

+17 years
March, John turns 30 years old
10 Tishri 3786 meaning 09/20/25 Jesus turns 30 years old
It begins the ministry of John the Baptist, 26 CE, after Pilate is put into
service.

25
26

1 Tishri 3787 meaning 09/30/26 CE. The baptism of Jesus. He also

begins His ministry.
10 Tishri 3787 meaning 10/09/26 Jesus turns 31 years old.
27
14-21 Nissan 3787 meaning 04/9/27 - 04/16/27 CE. First Passover

3788
28
14-21 Nissan 3788 meaning 04/26/28 - 05/03/28 CE. Second
Passover
3789
29
14-21 Nissan 3789. meaning 04/16/29 - 04/23/28 Third Passover
3790

Feast of the Tabernacles 15-22 Tishri 3790 meaning 10/11/29

10/18/29
Feast of the Dedication Hanukah 25 Kislev-2 Tebet. 3790
meaning 12/19/29 12/26/29
30
14-21 Nissan 3790 meaning 04/05/30 04/12/30 Fourth Passover.
Crucifixion; Burial; Resurrection in spirit; preaching in Hades;
Incarnation in glorified body

16