Apostles Time Line

5-3BC Jesus and John the Baptist are born (many believe Jesus was actually born BC because of a matter involving the Roman Calendar, Lk. 1, 2).  Herod dies and is succeeded by Archelaus.

6 AD   Annas becomes High Priest.  Archelaus is deposed by Augustus and replaced by Herod Antipas.

7     A young Jesus astounds the priests in the Temple with his wisdom (Lk. 2). 

14   Augustus dies and is succeeded by Tiberius as emperor.

15   Annas is removed as High Priest and son-in-law Caiaphas eventually succeeds him.

26   Pontius Pilate becomes Procurator of Judea until 36 AD.

27   John the Baptist began is ministry (Lk. 3: 1, 2).  Jesus is baptized by John and also begins his ministry (Mk. 1: 4-11).

30   Jesus is crucified and resurrected from the dead (some scholars list the date as 33 AD.  There are good arguments for both dates.  This time table is based primarily on Jesus' birth occurring at 3 BC.  Hence, Jesus would have been 30 years of age when crucified).

32   Gamaliel encourages tolerance of the Christians in his speech (Acts 5: 33-42).

33-36   Steven becomes the first martyr.  It appears that about this same year, Paul is mentioned as persecuting Christians and later becoming a Christian himself (Acts 7, 9). ( 3-1/2 years after Christ is Crucified and resurrected)

33-36   The Gentiles are officially received as exemplified in the case of Cornelius and his household (Acts 10).   Caligula is assassinated and Claudius becomes emperor of Rome until 54 AD.

33-36 "And when James, Cephas [Peter], and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace [i.e., the gift or office] that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision" (Gal. 2:9).
Paul further mentioned his special office as the Gentile Apostle in II Timothy 1:11: "Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles."

43   Paul and Barnabas preach the gospel in Antioch (Acts 11: 20-26).

44   Paul and Barnabas take contributions to Jerusalem from Antioch (Acts 11: 27-30).  James, the brother of John, is put to death by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12: 1-3).  

45  Near 45 A.D., we find Peter being cast into prison at Jerusalem (Acts 12:3, 4).

46   Paul goes on his first preaching trip (Acts 13, 14, the first trip was probably 46-49 or part of 50 AD). 

49   Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch after their first preaching trip (Acts 14). Peter was still in Jerusalem, this time attending the Jerusalem Council.

50   The famous Jerusalem meeting in which the issue of the Christians of Jewish descent binding the Law of Moses on Christians of Gentile ancestry was discussed and debated (Acts 15). Peter in Jerusalem, this time attending the Jerusalem Council.

51   Paul and Barnabas separate over John Mark (Acts 15: 36).  Paul and Silas went on Paul's second organized preaching trip (Acts 15: 36 - 18: 23, about three years, 54 AD).  Peter was in Antioch of Syria where he got into differences with Paul because he wouldn’t sit or eat with Gentiles.

52   Some place the writing of Galatians and perhaps the Epistle of James at 52 AD.

54   Paul returns to Antioch of Syria, ending his second preaching trip (Acts 18: 22).  There is great likelihood that the event mentioned in Galatians 2: 11-14 occurred at this time.  It is believed to have also been 54 AD that Paul went on his third trip in preaching the gospel (Acts 18: 23). 

56   It was during 55, 56 AD that Paul appears to have written I and 2 Corinthians. 

58   Paul begins his return trip to Jerusalem (Acts 20: 3). 

59-60   When Paul finally arrived at Rome, the first thing he did was to summon "the chief of the Jews together" (Acts 28:17) to whom he "expounded and testified the kingdom of God" (Verse 23). But what is amazing is that these chief Jewish elders claimed they knew very little even about the basic teachings of Christ. All they knew was that ‘‘as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against" (Verse 22). Then Paul began to explain to them the basic teachings of Christ on the Kingdom of God. Some believed -- the majority didn’t. It is evident from this that Peter was not in Rome prior to this. Paul is arrested and imprisoned in Caesarea for two years (Acts 22-24). After the rejection of the Jewish elders, Paul remained in his own hired house for two years. During that time he wrote Epistles to the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians, Philemon, and to the Hebrews. And while Paul mentions others as being in Rome during that period, he nowhere mentions Peter. The obvious reason is -- the Apostle to the circumcision wasn’t there.

60   Some believe Mark and Matthew were written in 60 AD.

62   After two years, it is believed that Nero found Paul innocent of wrongdoing and Paul is set free (Acts 28).   It was during this confinement in Rome that Paul wrote his prison epistles (Ephesians, Colossians, etc.).  Acts would then cover a span of about 30 years and is a valuable source of information relative to inception, growth, and problems experienced by the early church.  With the expiration of Paul’s two year’s imprisonment, he was released. But about four years later (near 65 A.D.), he was again sent back a prisoner to Rome. This time he had to appear before the throne of Caesar and was sentenced to die. Paul describes these circumstances at length in II Timothy.

64   Rome burns and Nero blames the Christians.  As a result severe persecution against Christians is experienced.

64   John is on the Island of Patmos to receive visions that constitute the Book of Revelation.   

65   The Apostle Paul distinctly informs us that Peter was not in Rome in 65 A.D.  Paul said: "Only Luke is with me" (II Tim. 4:11).

66   Some list 66 AD as the time of Paul's second imprisonment.  Paul apparently is put to death at this time (cp. 2 Tim. 4: 6-8). Peter in the city of Babylon among the Jews (I Pet. 5:13). With the expiration of Paul’s two year’s imprisonment, he was released. But about four years later (near 65 A.D.), he was again sent back a prisoner to Rome. This time he had to appear before the throne of Caesar and was sentenced to die. Paul describes these circumstances at length in II Timothy.

70   The Temple at Jerusalem is destroyed as prophesied by Jesus (Olivet Discourse). 

81   Domitian is appointed emperor and eventually begins severe persecution of Christians.

85? or prior to 70ad?   The writing of Second and Third John. Although many scholars date these writings after 70 ad. There are many who believe it was written prior to this date. It is my  opinion that these were written prior to 70 ad because of the silence of the destruction. Almost with out fail, every Christian writer after 70ad mentioned this destruction, yet none of the Biblical writers mentioned this. The silence is deafening!

100    John is believed to have died in Ephesus in 100 AD.  With the death of the apostles, the age of inspiration came to a close (see Jude 3).