Bible Study Seattle

“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.” Luke 3:1-2

Some seek to cloud Luke’s dating by claiming he was dating from the coregency of Tiberius and his father Augustus late in Augustus’ reign. But by the easiest and plainest understanding Luke counts from Tiberius’ full reign starting at Augustus’ death September 17th 14 AD. His fifteenth year is thus September 18th 28 AD to September 17th 29 AD. John the Baptist started his public ministry in the Spring of 29 AD and Jesus started his six months later in the Fall of 29 AD. Since Jesus started his ministry at 30 years of age, his birth was in the Fall of 2 BC, or 1.25 years before the zero point. The Fall of 29 AD is roughly 28.75 years after the zero point. (There is no zero year, merely a point). Jesus’ crucifixion was 3.5 years after the Fall of 29 AD or Spring of 33 AD. This was 32.25 years after the zero point.