Major Events in NT Hisory

These events are organized and listed with the approximate date, event, and biblical reference.




332 B.C.E. - Alexander the Great of Macedonia includes Palestine in his empire. 1 Macc. 1:1-5

323-197 B.C.E. - The Ptolemys of Egypt rule Palestine. 1 Macc. 1:6-10

197-142 B.C.E. - Seleucid dynasty of Syria rules Palestine. 2 Macc. 4

167-164 B.C.E. - Antiochus IV attempts to force Hellenistic religion on the Jews and poluutes the Temple. 1 Macc. 1:10-67

164 B.C.E. - The Maccabean revolt is successful; the Temple is cleansed and rededicated. 1 Macc. 2-6; Macc. 8-10; Dan. 7:25, 8:14, 9:27, 12:7

142-63 B.C.E. - The Jews expel the Seleucids; Judea becomes an independent kingdom under the Hasmonean dynasty.
1 Macc.

63 B.C.E. - General Pompey makes Palestine part of the Roman Empire and partitions Judea.

40-4 B.C.E. - Herod the Great rules as Roman-appointed king of Judea; he rebuilds the Temple.

30 B.C.E-14 C.E. - Augustus Caesar rules as emperor of Rome.

6-4 B.C.E. - Birth of Jesus. Matt. 2; Luke 2

4 B.C.E.-39 C.E. - Herod Antipas rules as tetrarch of Galilee. Luke 14:31-32; Mark 6:14-29

5-10 C.E. - Birth of Saul at Tarsus (the Apostle Paul).

14-37 C.E. - Tiberius Caesar rules as emperor of Rome. Luke 3:1

26-36 C.E. - Pontius Pilate serves as procurator of Judea.

27-29 C.E. (?) - Ministry of John the Baptist. Mark 1:2-11, 6:17-29; John 1:19-36, 3:22-36

27-30 or 29-33 C.E. - Ministry of Jesus. Matt., Mark, Luke, & John

30-33 C.E. (?) - Crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Matt., Mark, Luke, & John

33-35 C.E. (?) - Conversion of Paul. Acts 9:1-19, 22:1-21,26:1-23; Gal. 1:11-16

41-54 C.E. - Claudius serves as emperor of Rome; he banishes the Jews from Rome (49 C.E.). Act 18:2

41-44 C.E. (?) - Herod Agrippa I is king of Judea; he imprisons Peter; he beheads James and possibly John as well (44 C.E.?) Acts 12

47-56 C.E. - Paul conducts missionary tours among the Gentiles.

49 C.E. - Paul attends the first church council held in Jerusalem. Acts 15; Gal. 2

50 C.E. - Paul writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians; the “Sayings: of Jesus are compiled (?)

54-68 C.E. - Nero serves as emperor of Rome.

54-62 C.E. - Paul writes a series of letters to various churches he founded or visited. 1 Cor. (54-55 C.E.);
2 Cor. (55-56 C.E.); Gal. (56 C.E.); Rom. (56-57C.E.) Col. (61 C.E.); Philem. (61 C.E.); Phil. (62C.E.)

60-62 or 63 C.E.(?) - Paul under house arrest in Rome.

62 C.E. - James, brother of Jesus, is martyred.

64 C.E. - Rome is burned, and Christians are persecuted.

66-70 C.E. - Gospel of Mark is written.

66-73 C.E. - Jewish Revolt against Rome, destruction of Jerusalem.

69-79 C.E. - Vespasian serves as emperor of Rome.

79-81 C.E. - Titus, conqueror of Jerusalem, is emperor.

80-85 C.E. - Gospel of Matthew is written.

80-90 C.E. - Gospel of Luke and Acts are written.

80-100 C.E. - Letter of James is written.

81-96 C.E. - Domitian is emperor; Christians in Asia Minor experience general hostility.

85-90 C.E. - Book of Hebrews is written.

90 C.E. (?) - Letter to the Ephesians is written; Paul’s letters are collected (?)

90-100 C.E. - 1 Clement is written; Gospel of John is composed.

90-91 C.E. (?) - Rabbis hold council at Jamnia; third part of the Hebrew Bible-the Writings-is defined.

95-100 C.E. - Various Jewish and Christian apocalypses are composed: 2 Esdras, Revelation, and 3 Baruch.

98-117 C.E. - Trajan serves as emperor and persecutes the Christians.

100-110 C.E. - Letters of 1,2, and 3 John are written.

100-140 C.E. - The Didache, Shepherd of Hermas, and epistle of Ignatius are written; canonical New Testament books of 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, 1 peter, and Jude also appear.

117-138 C.E. - Hadrian is emperor.

132-135 C.E. - Jews revolt against Rome for the last time.

150 C.E. (?) - 2 Peter is written.