Notes by Date

Detailed Notes by Date

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Here is a list of what characters of the late first century might have remembered from their history classes. It is 'teaching' for us in that we wrestle with something different. An early Christian document called the Didache takes its name from Teaching. This is not "information" in the abstract sense, but "apprenticeship" - a concrete in-ner formation of our selves.

Gleaning from one of many authoritative historians (who of course don't always agree), I began with The Jerusalem Bible, Historical Notes. For other major sources, see bibliography.

To what degree are the characters of this ancient age plausible? How similar are they to me, to you, to us? How dissimilar? For example, in the last century, which we name the 20th, we 'know' what it means to have been born after the great depression or after the war. What would these characters have measured themselves by? How would the Gospel have been perceived by them? What differences would it make in their characters?

My final purpose is a story or stories that communicates something of the unheard and unspeakable gifts of the Gospel. In this I know there is some incoherence in us, but if the Spirit wills, it will co-inhere in spite of me and in spite of thee. (I should also mention some indebtedness to the Inklings, Sayers, Lewis, Tolkein, and Charles Williams - may they all have peace for the joy I knew through their search).

"All I have given you is in the nature of apprenticeship" says the Lord. "Will you hear it and do it?"
And again he says "Why do you have such trouble?"
The Spirit says, "It is so that when thou believest, thy joy will be more evident."

Please direct comments to bobmacdonald @ shaw.ca

Prior to 6 BCE

1500 Exodus and desert wanderings - primal tribal memory - God with us via the Tabernacle.

900s Settling the Land, Solomon's temple - God's house 'permanent?'

587 Destruction of Solomon's Temple by Nebuchadnezzar - the land is no longer under Israelite control and will not be for millennia except for the short Maccabean rule.

c 550 Cyrus King of Persia at the time of the 55th Olympiad. Many Jews stayed in Babylon in 587 BCE; eventually these (their descendants) became focus for Jewish learning after 135 CE. Ezekiel, Haggai, 1st Zechariah (1-8), Second and Third Isaiah - apocalyptic.

539-331 Judea/Galilee under the Persian Empire (Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles) - controlling and restoring structures - apocalyptic school continues with Second Zechariah, Second Joel and Malachi.- restoring the people.

336-323 Alexander; beginning of Greek cultural domination or Hellenization.

331-302 Judea/Galilee under Alexander and generals.

302-198 Judea/Galilee under Greco-Egyptian domination.

198-167 Judea/Galilee under Greco-Syrian domination. Daniel c 167-165 original patterns for Revelation (late 1st century CE); peasant insurrection begins under the Maccabees,

163-63 Hasmonean - Maccabean dynasty

160-142 Jonathon

142-135 Simon

146 Corinth ploughed under by Mummius, Greece becomes the Roman Province of Achaia.

135 Simon Maccabeus murdered with 2 sons. Beginning of the Essenes.

135-103 John Hyrcanus I.

128 John Hyrcanus conquers Samaritans. He conquered the Phoenician plain, the Idumeans (109), and then leveled the Samaritan cities (no wonder Jews and Samaritans were not friendly) including the temple at Mt Gerizim.

104-103 Aristobulus conquers Galilee; influx of Jewish settlements; some lasting tensions between Jews and Galileans. Jewish Galileans spoke Aramaic with a hideous accent. There is rich fishing and grain in the Galilee.

103-76 Janneus, Maccabean King conquered Galilee; forced Judaising of Greek city states and Idumeans.

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64 Divine conception of Augustus by Apollo (Eusebius, Lives of the Caesars c CE 120).

63 Birth of Augustus; Jerusalem falls to Pompey; Cicero, Livy, Virgil flor. Effectively the beginning of the Roman Empire.

60 Birth of Hillel (Babylonian - later moved to Judea, teacher of Gamaliel).

53 Crassus defeated by Parthians; Jews and Judean state considered part of Roman defense against Parthians.

49 Civil war - Pompey & Caesar.

47 Caesar recognizes Sabbath year in tax law (Josephus).

46 Caesar reforms calendar - 15 month year.

44 Corinth recolonized during dictatorship of Julius Caesar (49 to 44) & Augustus; Caesar assassinated.

43 - CE 17 Ovid.

42 Caesar deified.

37 Herod (Idumean) captures Jerusalem (according to Josephus he was appointed king in 40 but took three years to establish himself as king in Judea.)
Herod, the Jewish King, was not Jewish, but Idumean, the worst possible ruler for Jews, a foreigner and member of a formerly subject people who had no love for the Jews. The Jews' friendship with Rome dates back to 168 BCE through various treaties. The Jews are estimated at up to 1/7th of the population of the empire. In spite of Herod's unsuitability, he marries a Hasmonean and effectively continues the Maccabean line. He and his children rule in all or parts of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, etc throughout the next 100 years even during the direct rule of the Roman procurators. Herod's rule sounds a brutal as any dictatorship could be. See Josephus.

31 Octavius defeats Antony and Cleopatra at Actium.

30 Essene Gate built in Jerusalem.

(30) 27 to CE 14 G. Julius Caesar Augustus (Octavian)

20-19 Herod begins to rebuild the temple later described by Josephus as white and gold, like snow covered mountains. Judaism considered the single most vital religion in the Greco-Roman world.

19 Death of Virgil, Aeneid unfinished (Octavian propaganda according to Crossan).

25 - CE 50 Philo, strong influence on Alexandrian Christianity. Did not frequent the synagogue of freedmen, but was known to Simon (of Cyrene) through travel encounters.

17 Horace writes Carmen Saeculorum; eschatological hymn to Augustus.

8-7 Zechariah and Elizabeth - announcement of the birth of John the Baptist (in Judea) - in the days of Herod i.e. before 4 BCE.

After these days, Luke 1:24- how long after? unstated but meaning after Zechariah had completed his days of duty in the temple. Note that the angel announced a normal conception, i.e. God is in the action of conception. How do you 'know' something in advance? Especially for humans who 'live forwards' but 'learn backwards'. How do you even 'know' retrospectively? Do we only see what we think we know?

In the sixth month (of Elizabeth's pregnancy, Luke 1:26), Annunciation to Mary (in Galilee). Hebrew men and women of that time are open to the presence of what 20th century humans might not accept as knowable.

7-6 The birth of the Prophet of the Highest: Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. (Luke 1:57). Note Luke's use of "Now the time came". This is precise time with respect to what has gone before. The birth is quite predictable. It is not vague, as most of his early indications of time are vague. He becomes more precise towards the middle of the next century.

7-6 8 days later. Circumcision of John. And his naming.

6 BCE and following

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6 In those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus. Census for taxation - assume this is not the census of 6 CE but another one; was Quirinius governor or legate in Syria at this time also? or is Luke simply wrong here? Should he be referring to Quintilius Varus? Joseph, a recent immigrant to Galilee, returns to Bethlehem for counting. The date could be any time before the death of Herod.

In the second imperial year of Jian Ping (5 BCE) in the second month, comet emerged out of the constellation Ox-Herd for more than seventy days. According to records from the Han dynasty, the constellation Ox-Herd is concerned chiefly with sacrifice. (Jesus in Records in Han Dynasty by Rev Dr W. C. Tan ISBN 0-920811-36-1).

This is the fullness of time when the second Adam was born, the prime demonstration of the Incarnation.

6 8 days later. Circumcision of Jesus. And his naming. The pre-knowledge of the name is a given. It cannot but be that God will save his people as had been promised. Is it this revelation that makes reality knowable? The aged Simeon now willing to die. How old was Simeon? What history had he been aware of as the empire formed about him? Anna's age is given as 84. So she was born before Augustus, when Janneus was ruling in Judea and Galilee. Someone who was 84 in 1994 (as much prior to the millennium as Simeon is to the year 0!) would have been born before the first world war. In our day a map coloured Pink (British Empire) had paved the way for American hegemony. In those days, the Greeks were on the wane but had influenced much that was to come under Roman hegemony.

4 Herod dies. In the same year Judas the Galilean, the son of Hezekiah, raids Sepphoris. Herod's Kingdom divided among his sons: Archelaus - Judea and Samaria, Antipas - Galilee and Peraea, Philip - Gaulonitis, Trachonitis, Auranitis and Paneas (Ituraea). Note the life of the free country dwellers in Judea was far worse than that of slaves on an Italian estate. (Birth of Lucius Annaeus Seneca the younger.)

1 Birth of Claudius Giordanus, centurion [fictional].

0 (Actually there is no 0, only 1 or -1.)

0 This is the year of the birth of Samuel of Corinth. Simon and Lucius of Cyrene are of this generation or earlier (i.e. younger than Philo - also less educated and therefore less influenced by the Greek mind.)

4 This is the year of the birth of Ayala and Mayim, twin children of Chorazin

5 Paul born in Tarsus; Luke born in this period? Where did Luke get his doctorate?

6-9 Quirinius Governor in Syria again; additional census due to deposition of Archelaus.

6 Archelaus deposed as ethnarc of Judea by Augustus and exiled to Gaul. This is the beginning of Roman direct rule of Judea. Even the Pharisees preferred this to the rule of a Herod. Direct rule followed the futile revolt of Judas the Galilean (Gaulonite? same as in 4 BCE?) against the Romans. Caesarea, like Sebaste in Samaria and Sepphoris in Galilee, is endowed with all the trappings of Roman/Greek civilization: baths, colonnades, fountains and temples. Caesarea (on the Mediterranean) was Rome's capital city for the area (Judea & Samaria) from CE 6 on. It was also the scene of the Actian games instituted by Herod in honour of Augustus' victory at Actium (near Nicopolis in NW Greece) over Antony (31 BCE).

6 Jesus "in the temple". (See also CE 51 re Josephus.) This is the scene for Jesus bar mitzvah. "And when he was 12 years old" - Jesus visits Jerusalem and stays in the temple to talk to the 'doctors'. Perhaps Hillel (d. c10) was one of them. (see D. Flusser in Charlesworth for this suggestion.)

6-15 Annas high priest.

9 Varus legions defeated in the Teutoburger Wald by Germans led by Arminius ("Hermann"). This may very well be the same Quintilius Varus who oversaw the census referred to in Luke 2.

12 Birth of Aquila in Pontus.

Parties in Judea: Herodians - try to strike a balance between Jew and non-Jew in Palestine. Sadducees - a wealthy priestly caste. Did they influence James the Just or Ignatius of Antioch, both of whom used symbolism of Christ as the High Priest with respect to their own roles? Jewish Sadducees rejected the Pharisaic idea re the resurrection of the dead. Pharisees - like Hasidim (appears c 165 BCE) - became politically powerful in reign of Alexandra, widow of Janneus (76-67 BCE). Pharisee tradition was a subtle and intricate web of case law. Early Christians modeled much of their social behaviour on the Pharisees. All parties influenced by three hundred years of Greek civilization.

19 Aug 14 Tiberius succeeds Augustus.

14 to 37 TIBERIUS Claudius Nero

Palestine considered subdued during most of this time. Augustus accepted among the gods of the state. (Tacitus c 120 "Under Tiberias, all was quiet".)

14 Birth of Prisca in Antioch.

17 Massive earthquake and destruction in Ephesus - significantly rebuilt.

18-36 Caiaphas high priest. (Annas, father-in-law, still holding real power and influence Luke 2:23, Acts 4:6.)

19 Expulsion of the Jews from Rome: 4000 Jewish freedmen sent on unhealthy military expedition to Sardinia.

19 Birth of Gaius in Corinth. Samuel, Paul, and Ayala in Jerusalem; Mayim moves from Chorazin to Zippori.

Jesus about 25 - could he have begun a ministry earlier than 28, the beginning of the three traditional years? How would he have learned Isaiah - note how he and John exchange coded messages using the book of consolation.

20 Samuel moves back to the Galilee, marries Mayim.

21 Birth of David.

Customs law Province of Asia: tax paid by tradesmen to the slaves; right of customs officials to sell confiscated goods; 63 paragraphs of rules from bailing to loaning problems. Relevant issues for Gaius in the practice of business between Corinth and Asia.

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26-27 Completion of the temple begun by Herod; the 46 years of John 2:20 begin from 20/19 BCE so the temple would have been completed perhaps just in the past year or two (20 or 19 years + 26 or 27). Note the temple was still being 'completed' in 62-64.

26 Beginning of ministry of John the Baptist; Pontius Pilate procurator (Tacitus calls him prefect only) of Judea.

Birth of Tertius in Corinth, Rufus in Cyrene.

27-28 or 28-29 15th year of Tiberius (Luke 2:23) - 782 years after the founding of Rome. John the Baptist begins public ministry as stated: to turn the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.

A few months later: Jesus "about 30" Luke 3:23. Is 30 a significant age for this period - i.e. the age of discretion or majority - the age at which a public ministry would be accepted or expected of a Rabbi?

Dionysius Exiguus (last decade of the 5th C) decided 30 was exact and so took the start date of Tiberius' reign (767 since beginning of Rome), added 15 and subtracted 29, arriving at 753 BCE for the founding of Rome. Assuming both Dionysius and Luke were using the Jewish calendar, the first year of Tiberius would be a partial year, the second year would begin 1 Nisan 15 (March-April). Under these conditions the 15th year would begin on 1 Nisan 28.

28-29 Jesus Galilean mission; beginning of the mission of the Seventy and the mission of the "12". The sense in McBirnie (whatever else we find credible in legend) is that the Gospel rapidly spread to the four winds from England to India and from Spain to Armenia. Certainly there is a wider perspective than that of the "Roman" or Western Churches.

29-37 Gaius (of Corinth Rom 16) in school in Rome (tutelage of Seneca). See Rome & Greece. Note that this period is the earliest in which Aramaic notes on the words of Jesus would have been made or collected.

30 to Jerusalem - 14 Nisan is on a Friday in 30 CE (7th April); John 8:57 Thou art not yet 50 years old! - true enough - with these datings, Jesus would be about 36.

Passover: Crucifixion - the Kingdom in Jerusalem; urban environment not like Qumran; message is spread quickly through feast day throngs. Death of Judas by suicide. Disciples leave Jerusalem but return.
The Passover days are contradictory in the Gospels. John 19:31 has the day of preparation on Friday before the Sabbath. I.e. it was one of those years according to the Temple calendar when Passover fell on Saturday. Jesus as Passover is sacrificed at the same time as the Passover lambs in the temple. The synoptics, on the other hand, have a Passover meal earlier in the week (Mark 14:13-16). This would be according to the calendar of the Essenes, the sect of Qumran whose influence can be inferred from the Gospels though they are not mentioned there by the names that Josephus use for them. (See Pixner in Charlesworth). The conflicting calendars led to the problems and splits in the early church over the date of Easter not resolved till Nicea (325 CE). See e.g. http://www.centuryone.com/essene.html.

30 The Cypriot Levite Barnabas could be known by Ruth's father Mnason.

Potential for power and growth from the stump of Jesse: many shoots find their roots in the period here: Judaic to John, James, and Ebionite, Hellenist to Pauline, and Gnostic, many tendencies from priestly and structural to charismatic, apocalyptic a spice for them all. Differing models of institution arise from differing NT documents as we have them today. The Christianity began as an apocalyptic sect within Judaism. (Dunn, Unity and Diversity in the New Testament).

Käsemann writes: My own contention tends to be that Apocalyptic of the time after Easter designates the earliest variant of the kerygma. (See essays.)

Ascension/Pentecost - Acts 1. Acts 3 (2:47 day by day) indeterminate "short" period of time.

(birth of Clement of Rome.)

30 seems an optimal year for dating the crucifixion (some have 33 - but the later date gives little time for the dating of Paul's 14 years (Gal 2) though this could have been as few as 12.5 years due to counting conventions, and little time for the formation of the early communities from Cyrenaica through to Antioch). See also Rufus in Antioch, Glory of the Covenant, The Young Man.

30-35 A period of nascence and embryonic growth. Acts 5:42 - every day in the temple - there has to be passage of time to form the sect as a community. First conflict with political Sadducees and Pharisees; Gamaliel (Acts 5:34), Paul's teacher, cautions the rulers of Israel. Then first conflicts in the church Hebrews vs Hellenists (Acts 6:1 Now in these days); then between Hellenist Stephen and other Jews of the Diaspora - note significant contribution of North Africans (Cyrene, Alexandria).

Rufus, Alexander, Simon, mother, back and forth between Cyrenaica and Jerusalem.

30-31 First experience of the resurrection regarded as confirmation of God's promises to Israel (Jer 31:31). How long till the first expression of a confession of faith like the Shema (Deut 6:4): e.g. 1 Cor 8:6: for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come and through whom we exist (c 57 - 26 years later, different 'theology' from Acts: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ). First generation of Christians inherited scripture, attitudes, beliefs, covenants, organization (both in Jerusalem prior to its destruction and in the Diaspora). There were many differences among Jews in this period also: Sadducees, Pharisees, Herodians, Essenes, Hellenists, Babylonian Dispersion, Alexandrians - inclining more towards Greek thought, influence of Philo; Palestinian peasants to Alexandrian philosophers - all shared a steadfast attitude towards the God of Israel.

32-33 Zippori as observed by the centurion, Claudius.

34 Philip ethnarc of Ituraea dies. His province becomes part of Syria.

Note there are strong traditions and legends of the Seventy. There is a rural tradition of the Life of Jesus - see the testimony of the Didache as explained by Crossan.

35-38 A period of expansion and turbulence.

35 Stephen (a Hellenist unlike James brother of Jesus) martyred; movement of some Christians to Antioch.

including Simon and Lucius and their families. The Tree.

35-36 Philip (one of the seven) in Samaria, meets and baptizes Simon Magus, who is later rebuked by Simon Peter. Simon Magus practicing in Samaria (one origin of gnosticism), had been a disciple of Dositheus, probably connected with Essenes. (But S.M., flor. 40-45(?), started in the faith of Christ somewhat naive and manipulative - who knows how he ended). Philip preaches to the Ethiopian eunuch. - Gospel heads south too.

36 Pilate recalled to Rome.

Prisca accompanying her father, a civil servant in the pay of the Syrian governor Vitellius (father of the emperor Vitellius), who is part of the escort for Pilate - forcibly recalled because of the dreadful state of turmoil in Judea ('subdued' but an embarrassment to the emperor). They are accompanied by Alexander, son of Simon of Cyrene, now aged 16 making his way in the world. Alexander may have died in Palestine where an ossuary with Alexander of Cyrene in Hebrew and Alexander Son of Simon in Greek has been found.

Samuel and Mayim to Corinth.

36-46 Tertius learns Latin, Greek, and Hebrew under Samuel; birth of Phoebe in Cenchrae; Aquila moves to Rome.

Conversion of Paul - this makes the 14 years of Gal 2 from 36 to 48 (12 + 1 + 1 - doubly inclusive counting); Acts 9. Does he immediately preach (v20)? For several days... (v19). When many days [2 to 3 years] had passed (v23). Barnabas takes Saul to the apostles in Jerusalem (v27). Is v24 they were watching the gates the same as v32 of 2 Cor 11? I.e. the governor under king Aretas is the "they". Aretas (an ethnarc in north Arabia) was Herod Antipas father-in-law. Attacked him for divorcing his daughter (battles against Antipas 36, and campaign of Vitellius against Aretas 36-37.) Is v25 the same incident as 2 Co 11:35? How often do you get let down by a basket over the city walls? [ie yes].

Gal. Paul: I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem,

36-37 but I went away into Arabia and again I returned to Damascus.

38 Paul escapes from Damascus (2 Co 11:32-33); visits elders, James and Peter, in Jerusalem Gal 1:18 - the three years there are 36, 37, & 38. James is James the Just, brother of Jesus.

15 days only: Acts 9:28 he (Paul) went in and out among them at Jerusalem... and he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists; but they were seeking to kill him... the brethren brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus (c39-40). (i.e. sent him home.) Who are the Hellenists here - is this an early indication of the trouble Paul will have with his (and other's, Peter, Simon, Lucius, Barnabas) Gospel of inclusiveness? [Yes]

37 to 41 Gaius Caesar Germanicus (CALIGULA)

37 Josephus born. Caiaphas deposed. Herod Agrippa appointed tetrarch of additional territories - upper Galilee, Abilene, and parts of Lebanon.

38 Anti Jewish riot in Alexandria.

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38-41 A period of relative calm and building up
Acts 9:31 Church throughout Judea, Galilee, & Samaria had peace and was built up.

38-39 Peter's mission to nearby gentiles in Israel. Italian cohort in Caesarea - settled when? (Acts 10:1) Cornelius probably a retired NCO.

39 Herod Antipas exiled to the Pyrenees by Caligula.
Kingdom of Galilee given to Agrippa I.

39-40 Jews in Jamnia destroy an altar erected by pagan Greek minority. Caligula orders statue of himself to be set up in the temple at Jerusalem. Rome moving away from former Jewish alliance. Thousands commit suicide (Philo). Publius Petronius (legate of Syria - succeeding Vitellius?) a sympathetic ruler, friend of Prisca's father. Maccabees IV written?

c40 Extract from Philo (Embassy to Gaius 36.281-4 LCL) "While she [Jerusalem], as I have said, is my native city, she is also the mother city not of one country, Judea, but of most of the others in virtue of the colonies sent out at diverse times to the neighboring lands--Egypt, Phoenicia, the part of Syria called the Hollow and the rest as well and the lands lying far apart, Pamphylia, Cilicia, most of Asia up to Bithynia and the corners of Pontus, similarly also into Europe, Thessaly, Boeotia, Macedonia, Aetolia, Attica, Argos, Corinth and most of the best parts of Peloponnese. And not only are the mainlands full of Jewish colonies but also the most highly esteemed of the islands--Euboea, Cyprus, Crete."

41 Jan 24 Caligula murdered; Herod Agrippa now king, territory includes Jerusalem, Sadducean high priests his allies. Claudius confirms traditional Jewish rights and privileges throughout the Empire.

41 to 54 Tiberius CLAUDIUS Nero Germanicus

40-65 Seneca flor. Gaius had graduated in 37 from his school in Rome. See also Gaius 'of Macedonia'.

40-41 A period of activity in Antioch. Paul stays in Antioch at the home of Simon's family (Rom 16, Acts 11:20, 26). Prisca marries Aquila in Rome. Note the mention of Cypriots and Cyrenaicans in the Antioch Church - speaking to the Greeks and a great number believed - these would be among the people who had a strong influence on the new convert Paul.

42 Acts 11:28 Famine in the days of Claudius? (Can't be 48 as in JB Chron. without dismembering Acts).

Acts 12:25 Barnabas and Saul return from Jerusalem with John Mark.

44 spring Agrippa I orders the beheading of James (son of Zebedee), brother of John, (James the Great). Other sources have this event in 42. Agrippa's death (Acts 12:23). Death of Peleyah.

44-66 Judea again a procuratorial province.

45 Commissioning of Barnabas and Saul. "Manean, a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch" - must be Herod Agrippa II. Luke writes this after describing the death of Agrippa I.

c45-46 Paul first missionary journey Antioch -Seleuccia - Cyprus (Salamis), Perga in Pamphilia, Iconium (near Konya), Lystra where the Greeks went to sacrifice to them, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch in Pisidia, Pamphilia, Perga, Attalia, Antioch where they stay a 'long time'. Birth of Eutychus.

46 Death of Mayim, Ayala moves to Corinth.

47/48 Before the Council - When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face.

48-67 Agrippa II.

48 Council of Jerusalem - Paul and Barnabas and Titus in Jerusalem via Phoenicia & Samaria. Apostles, James brother of Jesus, Simeon (Peter) & John & elders - still a Jewish Church. Judas Barsabbas & Silas return to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

49 Decree of Claudius banishing "Jewish agitators" from Rome; Prisca & Aquila move to Corinth.

50-51 Second missionary journey & Paul in Corinth; Barnabas and Marc to Cyprus; Paul and Silas (=Sylvanus?) to Syria, Cilicia, Timothy at Derbe (circumcised), Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia (not Bithynia), Troas, Macedonia, Samothrace, Neapolis, Philippi (Lydia of Thyatira) Amphipolis, Appolonia, Thessalonica (Jason), Beroea (Timothy and Silas remain) Paul to Athens, Corinth where Titius Justus has a house next to the synagogue and Crispus is the ruler of the Synagogue. Samuel would have known him.

50 1 (& 2) Thessalonians.

Book of Enoch?

Gaius baptized; Tertius manumitted.

51 Josephus "in the temple". "The chief priests and leading men of the city used to come to me for precise information on some particulars." (Life 9)

52 Gallio (brother of Seneca) proconsul in Achaia. (In 51 also if he was present at the beating up of Sosthenes) - room for these dates to move forward by 6 months. Prisca, Aquila, and Paul sail to Syria (takes vow, shaves hair in Cenchrae). First to Ephesus where P&A remain, then to Caesarea, then Antioch, then sometime later through Galatia and Phrygia; Apollos in Ephesus "corrected" by Prisca and Aquila; Apollos goes to Achaia.

53 Paul comes to Ephesus by way of the high country. Paul learns about state of Corinthian church from Apollos. (I am for A, I am for B, I am for C, I am for D.) 1 Cor 16:12 Paul begged Apollos to come to you with the brothers.

c 50-53 167th Olympiad.

53 Tertius baptized; distress of Samuel, practically a father to Tertius. See On Stealing a Donkey.

Death of Ayala.

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53-58 Third missionary journey. What are Peter. Mark, and Barnabas among others doing at this time? How did Peter get to Rome? by way of Babylon - really ??? What would have been his reception among Babylonian Jews? Any impact on Mishnah? Did Paul's rebuke in Antioch before/after the council of Jerusalem in 49 (some have dated this as late as 55) cause Peter to stop fence sitting and become a real force for evangelism among the Jews - hence Babylon! What about Mark in Alexandria? other traditions?

53-56 Paul in Ephesus; Diana's Temple a great wonder, Artemis statue very complex, a full story derived from mother goddess - a very powerful draw, some statues made from a meteorite (Acts 19:35). 3 months preaching in Synagogue, then moves to hall of Tyrannus - argued daily!
Seven sons of Jewish high priest Sceva attacked by man with evil spirit.
Burning of books worth 50,000 pieces of silver.

54 to 68 NERO Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus

Note that Apollonius of Tyrana (http://religion.rutgers.edu/iho/exorcism.html#authority) in Rome at this time - he was supposedly a widely travelled (Asia Minor, India, Rome) contemporary of Paul with powers of healing.

36-46 Tertius learns Latin, Greek, and Hebrew under Rabbi Samuel of Corinth; birth of Phoebe in Cenchrae; Aquila moves to Rome.

55 Birth of Epictetus (d c 135) - Stoic philosopher (works known through his student Flavius Arrian).

56 Prisca & Aquila return to Rome from Ephesus via Corinth. Tacitus born.

Delegation of Fortunatus, Achaicus, & Stephanas to Ephesus, 1 Corinthians, Galatians
Tertius surnamed Fortunatus, in Ephesus, stays on with Gaius rather than returning with Stephanas, Priscilla and Aquila to Corinth. See also Tertius on Dictation.

Demetrius the silversmith sees his business going under because of this troublesome fellow preaching daily in the hall of Tyrannus; Paul had already resolved to go to Macedonia and Achaia as a response to the delegation from Corinth, then to Jerusalem with collection (a second one). Paul sends ahead of him Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia. (letter to Corinth re collection - not needing anyone to prod them.) Gaius and Aristarchus in riot. This is Gaius the 'Macedonian' not of Derbe. It is Gaius the hospitable merchant from Corinth who also has business in Ephesus and whom Luke does not know very well so calls him Macedonian - actually he is Italian, but third generation Greek, and potentially every bit as insulted by this falsification of his history as modern Greeks would be.

57 Winter Paul in Corinth [Imagine] Samuel's reconciliation with Tertius. After a lifetime as a Rabbi, changed in his attitude towards Jesus by Psalm 5 (Rom 3:13) as a member of the plot against Paul. Samuel 'destroyed' by his own intrigue. Do not limit imagination of the wideness of God's embrace.

Paul spends 3 months in Achaia, returns via Macedonia with Sopater of Beroea, son of Phyrrus, Aristarchus and Secundus, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus and Luke; Philippi - 5 days, Troas 7 days; Trophimus gets all the way to Jerusalem where his presence triggers Paul's troubles with the circumcision party. Whatever else has been done to the pastoral epistle - is this supposedly the same Trophimus of 2 Tim 4:20? - if so this might argue for a later trip for Paul after the Roman house arrest. (Note: Jews had reserved seats at the games in Asia Minor.) See The Gentile Mission

58-59 Jerusalem still the "mother" church; Vows in temple still common; i.e. Christians still following Jewish liturgy. Note Agabus prophecy re Paul. The separation of the two religions born in the ferment of this century is like the separation of twins bound together by many ligaments - one of which is Paul's girdle.

58-62 Last journeys of Paul according to Acts: from Corinth to Judea then to Rome

58 Eutychus sustains injury (but lives) as a result of long-winded Paul. Paul and company to Assos, Myteline, Chios, Samos, Miletus (meets elders from Ephesus), Cos, Rhodes, Patara, Syria, Tyre, Ptolmais, Caesarea (Philip, Agabus of Jerusalem) Jerusalem (Mnason) Ruth daughter of Mnason. Tertius & Gaius (of Corinth) accompany collection to Jerusalem, Tertius marries Ruth in Judea. Rufus moves from Rome to Cyrenaica.

58-59 Paul sees James the Just again, submits to him, uses money (from the collection) to perform a vow with six others, is taken by rabble while completing his vow; triggered by presence of Trophimus (uncircumcised); Paul's sister's son warns tribunes of plot. Note there were many 1000s of the brethren in Judea who had believed. This was still a Jewish Assembly.

Beginning of 2 years of house arrest in Caesarea - Felix, Ananias, Tertullus; Festus.

59 to 64 Jerusalem: Tertius assists with Greek redaction of Matthew - Tradition on Patmos holds Barnabas of Cyprus to have been a Matthean redactor - even the author; could this suggested collaboration provide for some healing of the rift between the Pauline and Barnabas traditions?

59 Jerusalem Birth of Prima.

60 Paul's appeal before Festus - voyage to Rome, storm, winter in Malta.

61- 63 Rome Prisca & Paul develop letter to Hebrews.

62 Jerusalem Birth of Secundus.

Following house arrest in Rome, no further information ... Jerusalem Bible chronology has Paul freed from Rome and travelling again from Spain to Ephesus, Crete and Macedonia (1 Tim later than 57); late martyrdom in Rome about 67 after a second arrest.

60-62 Acts 28:22 Where were the Jews in Rome to whom Paul had sent his letter in 57 to ALL God's beloved in Rome?

62 Death of James the Just; dismissal of Ananus (between prefects Festus and Albinus). Agrippa II replaces Ananus with Jesus son of Damassus.

64 Fire in Rome.

65 Matthias high priest. Death of Seneca the younger by his own hand.

66 First Jewish Revolt; note according to W.C.Tan, a second happening in the constellation Ox-Herd at this time. Jews cease sacrifices on behalf of the emperor - first time that sacrifices on behalf of the ruling party ceased since rebuilding the temple under Ezra (see Ezra 6:6-14). Prima in Jerusalem The Bridge.

66 Death of Peter and Paul? - maybe as early as 63. Tertius, Ruth, and family move home Returning Home.

68 Letter of Clement to Corinthians (some date later, but lack of mention of destruction of Jerusalem seems to me to ask for a pre-70 date; also seems that Clement is heavily dependent on Hebrews - was he indeed a co-author?)

Prior to 70 John Zebedee moves with Mary mother of Jesus to Ephesus? (This is very unlikely - John of Ephesus was no fisherman - and not likely the BD.)

Dr Eutychus formerly of Troas and Cos, learns from this beloved disciple. Gaius independently meets him also through his Ephesian business connection.

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69 Three emperors, Galba, Otho and Vitellius

69 to 79 T. Flavius Vespasianus (VESPASIAN)

70 Vespasian leaves Titus in charge of Roman army in Judea, Sack of Jerusalem. Jerusalem a city divided against itself (Josephus).

72- 73 T & R move from Cyrenaica to Cyprus - parental home; more work on Gospel of Matthew.

72 ... Josephus in Rome; writes Jewish War.

74 ... T & R move back to Corinth at estate of Gaius.

c60-80 Gaius building his Ephesian house; the fourth dwelling in the second block of terraced houses; Socrates room, bust of Socrates and Cleio(?), Artemis the huntress (in memory of the riots) - she has her source in mother goddess Kybele. Lions near Kybele move onto the arms of Artemis: Sumerian Ma, Marienna, Hittite Kubaba, Hera; Syrian and Arab Lat, Cretan Rhea, Phrygian Kybele.

77 Eutychus moves to Achaia from Ephesus (see also The Shirt.), meets Tertius again, connections between Gaius and John of Ephesus. See Beginning - Tychus dictating to Tertius; Law and Gospel.

79 to 81 TITUS Flavius Vespasianus

79 Eruption of Vesuvius destroys Pompeii. (death of Pliny the Elder) Aquila's success in Pontus leads to Pliny the Younger (correspondence with Trajan) a generation later. Gaius rescues Artemis and Titus.

c 79 Letter of Jude.

79 Roman Coliseum built. End of year of indenture of Marcus Titus Vetti in Corinth. He begins his correspondence from Ephesus as Gaius agent. See Gaius (of Macedonia) Achaicus and First Things and subsequent letters.

82 to 96 T. Flavius Domitianus (DOMITIAN)

The above link is full of information about the period

83 Death of Gaius and Samuel - see Part 6

90s Josephus: Antiquities.

95 Apocalypse or Revelation of John.

96-98 M. Cocceius NERVA

98-117 Marcus Ulpius Traianus (TRAJAN)

c 100 Shepherd of Hermas.

? Letter to Diognetus.

(later than Clement to Corinth; though also referring to Jewish sacrifices, seems to be at a time when Jew and Christian are more fully separated - i.e. after the beginning of creation of the Mishnah.)

101 Death of Clement of Rome in the persecutions of Trajan.

101-102 First Dacian war.

111 Pliny (d 113) letters from Bithynia (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/pliny1.html); describes Christians as members of a depraved and excessive superstition.

111 Dio Cocceianus Chrysostom (40-112) born in Bithynia (Pontus) - Collector and redactor of Zoroastrian Hymns. Imagine that he heard Aquila or Prisca preach. [Note this is not the same Dio Cocceianus Cassius who documented Roman History to the death of Severus (211) and fills some of the gaps in Tacitus accounts].

115 Tacitus (http://myron.sjsu.edu/romeweb/WRITERS/art10.htm) (Histories)
116-118, Major uprising of Jews in Cyrenaica - was this another stage in the birthing of Christianity from Judaism?

117 Secundus and Prima write the story. See Prologue.

117-138 P. Aelius Hadrianus (HADRIAN)

122 Suetonius describes Christianity as a new and mischievous superstition.

125-130 Papias bishop of Hieropolis (Pammukale - where the Roman baths are today).

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Chronology by verse (Acts) | An alternate Chronology (letters) | Author Home

64	Divine conception of Augustus by Apollo (Eusebius, Lives of the Caesars c CE 120).
63	Birth of Augustus; Jerusalem falls to Pompey; Cicero, Livy, Virgil flor. Effectively the beginning of the Roman Empire.
60	Birth of Hillel (Babylonian - later moved to Judea, teacher of Gamaliel).
53	Crassus defeated by Parthians; Jews and Judean state considered part of Roman defense against Parthians.
49	Civil war - Pompey & Caesar.
47	Caesar recognizes Sabbath year in tax law (Josephus).
46	Caesar reforms calendar - 15 month year.
44	Corinth recolonized during dictatorship of Julius Caesar (49 to 44) & Augustus; Caesar assassinated.
43 - CE 17	Ovid.
42	Caesar deified.
37	Herod (Idumean) captures Jerusalem (according to Josephus he was appointed king in 40 but took three years to establish himself as king in Judea.) Herod, the Jewish King, was not Jewish, but Idumean, the worst possible ruler for Jews, a foreigner and member of a formerly subject people who had no love for the Jews. The Jews' friendship with Rome dates back to 168 BCE through various treaties. The Jews are estimated at up to 1/7th of the population of the empire. In spite of Herod's unsuitability, he marries a Hasmonean and effectively continues the Maccabean line. He and his children rule in all or parts of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, etc throughout the next 100 years even during the direct rule of the Roman procurators. Herod's rule sounds a brutal as any dictatorship could be. See Josephus.
31	Octavius defeats Antony and Cleopatra at Actium.
30	Essene Gate built in Jerusalem.

20-19	Herod begins to rebuild the temple later described by Josephus as white and gold, like snow covered mountains. Judaism considered the single most vital religion in the Greco-Roman world.
19	Death of Virgil, Aeneid unfinished (Octavian propaganda according to Crossan).
25 - CE 50	Philo, strong influence on Alexandrian Christianity. Did not frequent the synagogue of freedmen, but was known to Simon (of Cyrene) through travel encounters.
17	Horace writes Carmen Saeculorum; eschatological hymn to Augustus.
8-7	Zechariah and Elizabeth - announcement of the birth of John the Baptist (in Judea) - in the days of Herod i.e. before 4 BCE.
	After these days, Luke 1:24- how long after? unstated but meaning after Zechariah had completed his days of duty in the temple. Note that the angel announced a normal conception, i.e. God is in the action of conception. How do you 'know' something in advance? Especially for humans who 'live forwards' but 'learn backwards'. How do you even 'know' retrospectively? Do we only see what we think we know?
	In the sixth month (of Elizabeth's pregnancy, Luke 1:26), Annunciation to Mary (in Galilee). Hebrew men and women of that time are open to the presence of what 20th century humans might not accept as knowable.
7-6	The birth of the Prophet of the Highest: Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. (Luke 1:57). Note Luke's use of "Now the time came". This is precise time with respect to what has gone before. The birth is quite predictable. It is not vague, as most of his early indications of time are vague. He becomes more precise towards the middle of the next century.
7-6	8 days later. Circumcision of John. And his naming.

6	In those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus. Census for taxation - assume this is not the census of 6 CE but another one; was Quirinius governor or legate in Syria at this time also? or is Luke simply wrong here? Should he be referring to Quintilius Varus? Joseph, a recent immigrant to Galilee, returns to Bethlehem for counting. The date could be any time before the death of Herod.
	In the second imperial year of Jian Ping (5 BCE) in the second month, comet emerged out of the constellation Ox-Herd for more than seventy days. According to records from the Han dynasty, the constellation Ox-Herd is concerned chiefly with sacrifice. (Jesus in Records in Han Dynasty by Rev Dr W. C. Tan ISBN 0-920811-36-1).
	This is the fullness of time when the second Adam was born, the prime demonstration of the Incarnation.
6	8 days later. Circumcision of Jesus. And his naming. The pre-knowledge of the name is a given. It cannot but be that God will save his people as had been promised. Is it this revelation that makes reality knowable? The aged Simeon now willing to die. How old was Simeon? What history had he been aware of as the empire formed about him? Anna's age is given as 84. So she was born before Augustus, when Janneus was ruling in Judea and Galilee. Someone who was 84 in 1994 (as much prior to the millennium as Simeon is to the year 0!) would have been born before the first world war. In our day a map coloured Pink (British Empire) had paved the way for American hegemony. In those days, the Greeks were on the wane but had influenced much that was to come under Roman hegemony.
4	Herod dies. In the same year Judas the Galilean, the son of Hezekiah, raids Sepphoris. Herod's Kingdom divided among his sons: Archelaus - Judea and Samaria, Antipas - Galilee and Peraea, Philip - Gaulonitis, Trachonitis, Auranitis and Paneas (Ituraea). Note the life of the free country dwellers in Judea was far worse than that of slaves on an Italian estate. (Birth of Lucius Annaeus Seneca the younger.)
1	Birth of Claudius Giordanus, centurion [fictional].
0	(Actually there is no 0, only 1 or -1.)
0	This is the year of the birth of Samuel of Corinth. Simon and Lucius of Cyrene are of this generation or earlier (i.e. younger than Philo - also less educated and therefore less influenced by the Greek mind.)

4	This is the year of the birth of Ayala and Mayim, twin children of Chorazin
5	Paul born in Tarsus; Luke born in this period? Where did Luke get his doctorate?
6-9	Quirinius Governor in Syria again; additional census due to deposition of Archelaus.
6	Archelaus deposed as ethnarc of Judea by Augustus and exiled to Gaul. This is the beginning of Roman direct rule of Judea. Even the Pharisees preferred this to the rule of a Herod. Direct rule followed the futile revolt of Judas the Galilean (Gaulonite? same as in 4 BCE?) against the Romans. Caesarea, like Sebaste in Samaria and Sepphoris in Galilee, is endowed with all the trappings of Roman/Greek civilization: baths, colonnades, fountains and temples. Caesarea (on the Mediterranean) was Rome's capital city for the area (Judea & Samaria) from CE 6 on. It was also the scene of the Actian games instituted by Herod in honour of Augustus' victory at Actium (near Nicopolis in NW Greece) over Antony (31 BCE).
6	Jesus "in the temple". (See also CE 51 re Josephus.) This is the scene for Jesus bar mitzvah. "And when he was 12 years old" - Jesus visits Jerusalem and stays in the temple to talk to the 'doctors'. Perhaps Hillel (d. c10) was one of them. (see D. Flusser in Charlesworth for this suggestion.)
6-15	Annas high priest.
9	Varus legions defeated in the Teutoburger Wald by Germans led by Arminius ("Hermann"). This may very well be the same Quintilius Varus who oversaw the census referred to in Luke 2.
12	Birth of Aquila in Pontus.

14	Birth of Prisca in Antioch.
17	Massive earthquake and destruction in Ephesus - significantly rebuilt.
18-36	Caiaphas high priest. (Annas, father-in-law, still holding real power and influence Luke 2:23, Acts 4:6.)
19	Expulsion of the Jews from Rome: 4000 Jewish freedmen sent on unhealthy military expedition to Sardinia.
19	Birth of Gaius in Corinth. Samuel, Paul, and Ayala in Jerusalem; Mayim moves from Chorazin to Zippori.
	Jesus about 25 - could he have begun a ministry earlier than 28, the beginning of the three traditional years? How would he have learned Isaiah - note how he and John exchange coded messages using the book of consolation.
20	Samuel moves back to the Galilee, marries Mayim.
21	Birth of David.

26-27	Completion of the temple begun by Herod; the 46 years of John 2:20 begin from 20/19 BCE so the temple would have been completed perhaps just in the past year or two (20 or 19 years + 26 or 27). Note the temple was still being 'completed' in 62-64.
26	Beginning of ministry of John the Baptist; Pontius Pilate procurator (Tacitus calls him prefect only) of Judea.
	Birth of Tertius in Corinth, Rufus in Cyrene.
27-28 or 28-29	15th year of Tiberius (Luke 2:23) - 782 years after the founding of Rome. John the Baptist begins public ministry as stated: to turn the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.
	A few months later: Jesus "about 30" Luke 3:23. Is 30 a significant age for this period - i.e. the age of discretion or majority - the age at which a public ministry would be accepted or expected of a Rabbi?

28-29	Jesus Galilean mission; beginning of the mission of the Seventy and the mission of the "12". The sense in McBirnie (whatever else we find credible in legend) is that the Gospel rapidly spread to the four winds from England to India and from Spain to Armenia. Certainly there is a wider perspective than that of the "Roman" or Western Churches.
29-37	Gaius (of Corinth Rom 16) in school in Rome (tutelage of Seneca). See Rome & Greece. Note that this period is the earliest in which Aramaic notes on the words of Jesus would have been made or collected.
30	to Jerusalem - 14 Nisan is on a Friday in 30 CE (7th April); John 8:57 Thou art not yet 50 years old! - true enough - with these datings, Jesus would be about 36.
	Passover: Crucifixion - the Kingdom in Jerusalem; urban environment not like Qumran; message is spread quickly through feast day throngs. Death of Judas by suicide. Disciples leave Jerusalem but return. The Passover days are contradictory in the Gospels. John 19:31 has the day of preparation on Friday before the Sabbath. I.e. it was one of those years according to the Temple calendar when Passover fell on Saturday. Jesus as Passover is sacrificed at the same time as the Passover lambs in the temple. The synoptics, on the other hand, have a Passover meal earlier in the week (Mark 14:13-16). This would be according to the calendar of the Essenes, the sect of Qumran whose influence can be inferred from the Gospels though they are not mentioned there by the names that Josephus use for them. (See Pixner in Charlesworth). The conflicting calendars led to the problems and splits in the early church over the date of Easter not resolved till Nicea (325 CE). See e.g. http://www.centuryone.com/essene.html.
30	The Cypriot Levite Barnabas could be known by Ruth's father Mnason.
	Potential for power and growth from the stump of Jesse: many shoots find their roots in the period here: Judaic to John, James, and Ebionite, Hellenist to Pauline, and Gnostic, many tendencies from priestly and structural to charismatic, apocalyptic a spice for them all. Differing models of institution arise from differing NT documents as we have them today. The Christianity began as an apocalyptic sect within Judaism. (Dunn, Unity and Diversity in the New Testament).
	Käsemann writes: My own contention tends to be that Apocalyptic of the time after Easter designates the earliest variant of the kerygma. (See essays.)
	Ascension/Pentecost - Acts 1. Acts 3 (2:47 day by day) indeterminate "short" period of time.
	(birth of Clement of Rome.)

30-35	A period of nascence and embryonic growth. Acts 5:42 - every day in the temple - there has to be passage of time to form the sect as a community. First conflict with political Sadducees and Pharisees; Gamaliel (Acts 5:34), Paul's teacher, cautions the rulers of Israel. Then first conflicts in the church Hebrews vs Hellenists (Acts 6:1 Now in these days); then between Hellenist Stephen and other Jews of the Diaspora - note significant contribution of North Africans (Cyrene, Alexandria).
	Rufus, Alexander, Simon, mother, back and forth between Cyrenaica and Jerusalem.
30-31	First experience of the resurrection regarded as confirmation of God's promises to Israel (Jer 31:31). How long till the first expression of a confession of faith like the Shema (Deut 6:4): e.g. 1 Cor 8:6: for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come and through whom we exist (c 57 - 26 years later, different 'theology' from Acts: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ). First generation of Christians inherited scripture, attitudes, beliefs, covenants, organization (both in Jerusalem prior to its destruction and in the Diaspora). There were many differences among Jews in this period also: Sadducees, Pharisees, Herodians, Essenes, Hellenists, Babylonian Dispersion, Alexandrians - inclining more towards Greek thought, influence of Philo; Palestinian peasants to Alexandrian philosophers - all shared a steadfast attitude towards the God of Israel.
32-33	Zippori as observed by the centurion, Claudius.
34	Philip ethnarc of Ituraea dies. His province becomes part of Syria.

35-38	A period of expansion and turbulence.
35	Stephen (a Hellenist unlike James brother of Jesus) martyred; movement of some Christians to Antioch.
	including Simon and Lucius and their families. The Tree.
35-36	Philip (one of the seven) in Samaria, meets and baptizes Simon Magus, who is later rebuked by Simon Peter. Simon Magus practicing in Samaria (one origin of gnosticism), had been a disciple of Dositheus, probably connected with Essenes. (But S.M., flor. 40-45(?), started in the faith of Christ somewhat naive and manipulative - who knows how he ended). Philip preaches to the Ethiopian eunuch. - Gospel heads south too.
36	Pilate recalled to Rome.
	Prisca accompanying her father, a civil servant in the pay of the Syrian governor Vitellius (father of the emperor Vitellius), who is part of the escort for Pilate - forcibly recalled because of the dreadful state of turmoil in Judea ('subdued' but an embarrassment to the emperor). They are accompanied by Alexander, son of Simon of Cyrene, now aged 16 making his way in the world. Alexander may have died in Palestine where an ossuary with Alexander of Cyrene in Hebrew and Alexander Son of Simon in Greek has been found.
	Samuel and Mayim to Corinth.
36-46	Tertius learns Latin, Greek, and Hebrew under Samuel; birth of Phoebe in Cenchrae; Aquila moves to Rome.
	Conversion of Paul - this makes the 14 years of Gal 2 from 36 to 48 (12 + 1 + 1 - doubly inclusive counting); Acts 9. Does he immediately preach (v20)? For several days... (v19). When many days [2 to 3 years] had passed (v23). Barnabas takes Saul to the apostles in Jerusalem (v27). Is v24 they were watching the gates the same as v32 of 2 Cor 11? I.e. the governor under king Aretas is the "they". Aretas (an ethnarc in north Arabia) was Herod Antipas father-in-law. Attacked him for divorcing his daughter (battles against Antipas 36, and campaign of Vitellius against Aretas 36-37.) Is v25 the same incident as 2 Co 11:35? How often do you get let down by a basket over the city walls? [ie yes].
	Gal. Paul: I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem,
36-37	but I went away into Arabia and again I returned to Damascus.
38	Paul escapes from Damascus (2 Co 11:32-33); visits elders, James and Peter, in Jerusalem Gal 1:18 - the three years there are 36, 37, & 38. James is James the Just, brother of Jesus.
	15 days only: Acts 9:28 he (Paul) went in and out among them at Jerusalem... and he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists; but they were seeking to kill him... the brethren brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus (c39-40). (i.e. sent him home.) Who are the Hellenists here - is this an early indication of the trouble Paul will have with his (and other's, Peter, Simon, Lucius, Barnabas) Gospel of inclusiveness? [Yes]

37	Josephus born. Caiaphas deposed. Herod Agrippa appointed tetrarch of additional territories - upper Galilee, Abilene, and parts of Lebanon.
38	Anti Jewish riot in Alexandria.

38-41	A period of relative calm and building up Acts 9:31 Church throughout Judea, Galilee, & Samaria had peace and was built up.
38-39	Peter's mission to nearby gentiles in Israel. Italian cohort in Caesarea - settled when? (Acts 10:1) Cornelius probably a retired NCO.
39	Herod Antipas exiled to the Pyrenees by Caligula. Kingdom of Galilee given to Agrippa I.
39-40	Jews in Jamnia destroy an altar erected by pagan Greek minority. Caligula orders statue of himself to be set up in the temple at Jerusalem. Rome moving away from former Jewish alliance. Thousands commit suicide (Philo). Publius Petronius (legate of Syria - succeeding Vitellius?) a sympathetic ruler, friend of Prisca's father. Maccabees IV written?
c40	Extract from Philo (Embassy to Gaius 36.281-4 LCL) "While she [Jerusalem], as I have said, is my native city, she is also the mother city not of one country, Judea, but of most of the others in virtue of the colonies sent out at diverse times to the neighboring lands--Egypt, Phoenicia, the part of Syria called the Hollow and the rest as well and the lands lying far apart, Pamphylia, Cilicia, most of Asia up to Bithynia and the corners of Pontus, similarly also into Europe, Thessaly, Boeotia, Macedonia, Aetolia, Attica, Argos, Corinth and most of the best parts of Peloponnese. And not only are the mainlands full of Jewish colonies but also the most highly esteemed of the islands--Euboea, Cyprus, Crete."
41 Jan 24	Caligula murdered; Herod Agrippa now king, territory includes Jerusalem, Sadducean high priests his allies. Claudius confirms traditional Jewish rights and privileges throughout the Empire.

40-65	Seneca flor. Gaius had graduated in 37 from his school in Rome. See also Gaius 'of Macedonia'.
40-41	A period of activity in Antioch. Paul stays in Antioch at the home of Simon's family (Rom 16, Acts 11:20, 26). Prisca marries Aquila in Rome. Note the mention of Cypriots and Cyrenaicans in the Antioch Church - speaking to the Greeks and a great number believed - these would be among the people who had a strong influence on the new convert Paul.
42	Acts 11:28 Famine in the days of Claudius? (Can't be 48 as in JB Chron. without dismembering Acts).
	Acts 12:25 Barnabas and Saul return from Jerusalem with John Mark.
44 spring	Agrippa I orders the beheading of James (son of Zebedee), brother of John, (James the Great). Other sources have this event in 42. Agrippa's death (Acts 12:23). Death of Peleyah.
44-66	Judea again a procuratorial province.
45	Commissioning of Barnabas and Saul. "Manean, a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch" - must be Herod Agrippa II. Luke writes this after describing the death of Agrippa I.
c45-46	Paul first missionary journey Antioch -Seleuccia - Cyprus (Salamis), Perga in Pamphilia, Iconium (near Konya), Lystra where the Greeks went to sacrifice to them, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch in Pisidia, Pamphilia, Perga, Attalia, Antioch where they stay a 'long time'. Birth of Eutychus.
46	Death of Mayim, Ayala moves to Corinth.
47/48	Before the Council - When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face.
48-67	Agrippa II.
48	Council of Jerusalem - Paul and Barnabas and Titus in Jerusalem via Phoenicia & Samaria. Apostles, James brother of Jesus, Simeon (Peter) & John & elders - still a Jewish Church. Judas Barsabbas & Silas return to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
49	Decree of Claudius banishing "Jewish agitators" from Rome; Prisca & Aquila move to Corinth.
50-51	Second missionary journey & Paul in Corinth; Barnabas and Marc to Cyprus; Paul and Silas (=Sylvanus?) to Syria, Cilicia, Timothy at Derbe (circumcised), Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia (not Bithynia), Troas, Macedonia, Samothrace, Neapolis, Philippi (Lydia of Thyatira) Amphipolis, Appolonia, Thessalonica (Jason), Beroea (Timothy and Silas remain) Paul to Athens, Corinth where Titius Justus has a house next to the synagogue and Crispus is the ruler of the Synagogue. Samuel would have known him.
50	1 (& 2) Thessalonians.
	Book of Enoch?
	Gaius baptized; Tertius manumitted.
51	Josephus "in the temple". "The chief priests and leading men of the city used to come to me for precise information on some particulars." (Life 9)
52	Gallio (brother of Seneca) proconsul in Achaia. (In 51 also if he was present at the beating up of Sosthenes) - room for these dates to move forward by 6 months. Prisca, Aquila, and Paul sail to Syria (takes vow, shaves hair in Cenchrae). First to Ephesus where P&A remain, then to Caesarea, then Antioch, then sometime later through Galatia and Phrygia; Apollos in Ephesus "corrected" by Prisca and Aquila; Apollos goes to Achaia.
53	Paul comes to Ephesus by way of the high country. Paul learns about state of Corinthian church from Apollos. (I am for A, I am for B, I am for C, I am for D.) 1 Cor 16:12 Paul begged Apollos to come to you with the brothers.
c 50-53	167th Olympiad.
53	Tertius baptized; distress of Samuel, practically a father to Tertius. See On Stealing a Donkey.
	Death of Ayala.

36-46	Tertius learns Latin, Greek, and Hebrew under Rabbi Samuel of Corinth; birth of Phoebe in Cenchrae; Aquila moves to Rome.
55	Birth of Epictetus (d c 135) - Stoic philosopher (works known through his student Flavius Arrian).
56	Prisca & Aquila return to Rome from Ephesus via Corinth. Tacitus born.
	Delegation of Fortunatus, Achaicus, & Stephanas to Ephesus, 1 Corinthians, Galatians Tertius surnamed Fortunatus, in Ephesus, stays on with Gaius rather than returning with Stephanas, Priscilla and Aquila to Corinth. See also Tertius on Dictation.
	Demetrius the silversmith sees his business going under because of this troublesome fellow preaching daily in the hall of Tyrannus; Paul had already resolved to go to Macedonia and Achaia as a response to the delegation from Corinth, then to Jerusalem with collection (a second one). Paul sends ahead of him Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia. (letter to Corinth re collection - not needing anyone to prod them.) Gaius and Aristarchus in riot. This is Gaius the 'Macedonian' not of Derbe. It is Gaius the hospitable merchant from Corinth who also has business in Ephesus and whom Luke does not know very well so calls him Macedonian - actually he is Italian, but third generation Greek, and potentially every bit as insulted by this falsification of his history as modern Greeks would be.
57	Winter Paul in Corinth [Imagine] Samuel's reconciliation with Tertius. After a lifetime as a Rabbi, changed in his attitude towards Jesus by Psalm 5 (Rom 3:13) as a member of the plot against Paul. Samuel 'destroyed' by his own intrigue. Do not limit imagination of the wideness of God's embrace.
	Paul spends 3 months in Achaia, returns via Macedonia with Sopater of Beroea, son of Phyrrus, Aristarchus and Secundus, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus and Luke; Philippi - 5 days, Troas 7 days; Trophimus gets all the way to Jerusalem where his presence triggers Paul's troubles with the circumcision party. Whatever else has been done to the pastoral epistle - is this supposedly the same Trophimus of 2 Tim 4:20? - if so this might argue for a later trip for Paul after the Roman house arrest. (Note: Jews had reserved seats at the games in Asia Minor.) See The Gentile Mission
58-59	Jerusalem still the "mother" church; Vows in temple still common; i.e. Christians still following Jewish liturgy. Note Agabus prophecy re Paul. The separation of the two religions born in the ferment of this century is like the separation of twins bound together by many ligaments - one of which is Paul's girdle.
58-62	Last journeys of Paul according to Acts: from Corinth to Judea then to Rome
58	Eutychus sustains injury (but lives) as a result of long-winded Paul. Paul and company to Assos, Myteline, Chios, Samos, Miletus (meets elders from Ephesus), Cos, Rhodes, Patara, Syria, Tyre, Ptolmais, Caesarea (Philip, Agabus of Jerusalem) Jerusalem (Mnason) Ruth daughter of Mnason. Tertius & Gaius (of Corinth) accompany collection to Jerusalem, Tertius marries Ruth in Judea. Rufus moves from Rome to Cyrenaica.
58-59	Paul sees James the Just again, submits to him, uses money (from the collection) to perform a vow with six others, is taken by rabble while completing his vow; triggered by presence of Trophimus (uncircumcised); Paul's sister's son warns tribunes of plot. Note there were many 1000s of the brethren in Judea who had believed. This was still a Jewish Assembly.
	Beginning of 2 years of house arrest in Caesarea - Felix, Ananias, Tertullus; Festus.
	59 to 64 Jerusalem: Tertius assists with Greek redaction of Matthew - Tradition on Patmos holds Barnabas of Cyprus to have been a Matthean redactor - even the author; could this suggested collaboration provide for some healing of the rift between the Pauline and Barnabas traditions?
59	Jerusalem Birth of Prima.
60	Paul's appeal before Festus - voyage to Rome, storm, winter in Malta.
61- 63	Rome Prisca & Paul develop letter to Hebrews.
62	Jerusalem Birth of Secundus.
	Following house arrest in Rome, no further information ... Jerusalem Bible chronology has Paul freed from Rome and travelling again from Spain to Ephesus, Crete and Macedonia (1 Tim later than 57); late martyrdom in Rome about 67 after a second arrest.
60-62	Acts 28:22 Where were the Jews in Rome to whom Paul had sent his letter in 57 to ALL God's beloved in Rome?
62	Death of James the Just; dismissal of Ananus (between prefects Festus and Albinus). Agrippa II replaces Ananus with Jesus son of Damassus.
64	Fire in Rome.
65	Matthias high priest. Death of Seneca the younger by his own hand.
66	First Jewish Revolt; note according to W.C.Tan, a second happening in the constellation Ox-Herd at this time. Jews cease sacrifices on behalf of the emperor - first time that sacrifices on behalf of the ruling party ceased since rebuilding the temple under Ezra (see Ezra 6:6-14). Prima in Jerusalem The Bridge.
66	Death of Peter and Paul? - maybe as early as 63. Tertius, Ruth, and family move home Returning Home.
68	Letter of Clement to Corinthians (some date later, but lack of mention of destruction of Jerusalem seems to me to ask for a pre-70 date; also seems that Clement is heavily dependent on Hebrews - was he indeed a co-author?)
Prior to 70	John Zebedee moves with Mary mother of Jesus to Ephesus? (This is very unlikely - John of Ephesus was no fisherman - and not likely the BD.)
	Dr Eutychus formerly of Troas and Cos, learns from this beloved disciple. Gaius independently meets him also through his Ephesian business connection.

70	Vespasian leaves Titus in charge of Roman army in Judea, Sack of Jerusalem. Jerusalem a city divided against itself (Josephus).
72- 73	T & R move from Cyrenaica to Cyprus - parental home; more work on Gospel of Matthew.
72 ...	Josephus in Rome; writes Jewish War.
74 ...	T & R move back to Corinth at estate of Gaius.
c60-80	Gaius building his Ephesian house; the fourth dwelling in the second block of terraced houses; Socrates room, bust of Socrates and Cleio(?), Artemis the huntress (in memory of the riots) - she has her source in mother goddess Kybele. Lions near Kybele move onto the arms of Artemis: Sumerian Ma, Marienna, Hittite Kubaba, Hera; Syrian and Arab Lat, Cretan Rhea, Phrygian Kybele.
77	Eutychus moves to Achaia from Ephesus (see also The Shirt.), meets Tertius again, connections between Gaius and John of Ephesus. See Beginning - Tychus dictating to Tertius; Law and Gospel.

79	Eruption of Vesuvius destroys Pompeii. (death of Pliny the Elder) Aquila's success in Pontus leads to Pliny the Younger (correspondence with Trajan) a generation later. Gaius rescues Artemis and Titus.
c 79	Letter of Jude.
79	Roman Coliseum built. End of year of indenture of Marcus Titus Vetti in Corinth. He begins his correspondence from Ephesus as Gaius agent. See Gaius (of Macedonia) Achaicus and First Things and subsequent letters.

83	Death of Gaius and Samuel - see Part 6
90s	Josephus: Antiquities.
95	Apocalypse or Revelation of John.

c 100	Shepherd of Hermas.
	? Letter to Diognetus.
	(later than Clement to Corinth; though also referring to Jewish sacrifices, seems to be at a time when Jew and Christian are more fully separated - i.e. after the beginning of creation of the Mishnah.)
101	Death of Clement of Rome in the persecutions of Trajan.
101-102	First Dacian war.
111	Pliny (d 113) letters from Bithynia (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/pliny1.html); describes Christians as members of a depraved and excessive superstition.
111	Dio Cocceianus Chrysostom (40-112) born in Bithynia (Pontus) - Collector and redactor of Zoroastrian Hymns. Imagine that he heard Aquila or Prisca preach. [Note this is not the same Dio Cocceianus Cassius who documented Roman History to the death of Severus (211) and fills some of the gaps in Tacitus accounts].
115	Tacitus (http://myron.sjsu.edu/romeweb/WRITERS/art10.htm) (Histories) 116-118, Major uprising of Jews in Cyrenaica - was this another stage in the birthing of Christianity from Judaism?
117	Secundus and Prima write the story. See Prologue.

122	Suetonius describes Christianity as a new and mischievous superstition.
125-130	Papias bishop of Hieropolis (Pammukale - where the Roman baths are today).