Jesus Christ's Timeline – A Simple Overview

If you’ve ever wondered when the big moments in Jesus Christ’s life happened, you’re not alone. A clear timeline helps you see how his story fits together, whether you’re studying for a class, writing a paper, or just curious.

Scholars piece together dates from the Gospels, Roman records, and astronomical clues. While exact years can differ, most agree on a practical range for each event. Below you’ll find the most widely accepted dates, plus a few notes on why they matter.

Early Life and Public Ministry

Birth: Most experts place Jesus’s birth between 6 BC and 4 BC. The estimate comes from the reign of King Herod, who died in 4 BC and is mentioned in the Nativity story.

Childhood: The only recorded event is the visit to the temple at age 12 (Luke 2:41‑52). No exact year, but it would be around 2 BC.

Baptism: Jesus’s public ministry likely began when he was about 30 years old. That puts his baptism around AD 26‑29, based on the reign of Tiberius and the high priesthood of Annas.

First miracle – turning water into wine: This event is usually dated to the first year of his ministry, so roughly AD 27‑30.

Major teachings and miracles: Over the next three years, Jesus traveled through Galilee, Judea, and surrounding areas. Key moments—Sermon on the Mount, feeding the 5,000, walking on water—are all placed within this 30‑33 AD window.

Death, Resurrection and Legacy

Crucifixion: Most historians agree Jesus was crucified on a Friday during Passover. The most common scholarly date is AD 30 April 7, though some argue for AD 33 April 3. Both fit the Gospel accounts and Roman calendrical data.

Resurrection: According to the Gospels, the resurrection happened on the Sunday following the crucifixion. That would be AD 30 April 9 or AD 33 April 5, depending on which crucifixion date you follow.

Ascension: The Acts of the Apostles says Jesus ascended 40 days after the resurrection. That places the ascension in early May of the same year.

Early Church formation: After the ascension, the apostles began spreading the message. The Pentecost event—when the Holy Spirit is said to have descended—occurred 10 days after the ascension, roughly May 20 AD 30 or AD 33.

Understanding this timeline gives you a framework for reading the New Testament. It shows how quickly the core events unfolded and why they still matter to billions today.

Remember, exact dates can be debated, but the sequence—birth, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension—remains consistent across most traditions. Use this guide as a starting point, and dive deeper into each event if you want more detail.