Historical Timeline: New Testament Events and Writings

Chronology of New Testament Events and Writings

Approximate Historical DateNew Testament Book(s)Main Events Described
c. 4–6 BCGospel of Luke (chs. 1–2), Gospel of Matthew (chs. 1–2)Births of John the Baptist and Jesus
AD 26–30Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of JohnMinistry, death, and resurrection of Jesus
AD 30–33Acts of the Apostles 1–7Pentecost and the earliest Jerusalem church
AD 33–35Acts 8–9Stephen’s martyrdom, Philip’s ministry, Paul’s conversion
AD 35–44Acts 9–12Expansion into Judea, Samaria, Antioch, and Peter’s ministry
AD 46–48Acts 13–14Paul’s first missionary journey
AD 48–49Galatians (if written before the Jerusalem Council)Controversy over circumcision and Gentile converts
AD 49Acts 15Jerusalem Council
AD 49–52Acts 16–18Second missionary journey, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth
AD 49–511 ThessaloniansPaul’s correspondence with Thessalonica
AD 50–522 ThessaloniansFollow-up letter on the Day of the Lord
AD 53–57Acts 18–20Third missionary journey
AD 54–551 CorinthiansWritten from Ephesus
AD 55–562 CorinthiansWritten from Macedonia
AD 57RomansWritten from Corinth before returning to Jerusalem
AD 57–59Acts 21–26Paul’s arrest and trials in Jerusalem and Caesarea
AD 60–62Acts 27–28Voyage to Rome and house arrest
AD 60–62Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, EphesiansPaul’s prison correspondence
AD 62–64James (if dated late), 1 PeterTeaching to Jewish and scattered believers
AD 64–671 Timothy, TitusPaul’s later ministry
AD 66–672 TimothyPaul’s final known letter before his death
AD 65–95Hebrews, Jude, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 JohnVarious teachings and pastoral concerns in the later apostolic period
c. AD 95Book of RevelationJohn’s visions on Patmos

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