By Steven Matthew Hahn, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, steve@hahn.info
The following is a summary of the events in the life of Christ. The events are ordered chronologically and are grouped by geographical location. The primary sources used are the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. All references to time are highlighted in red. All references to place are highlighted in blue. All places of archaeological interest are highlighted in black.
Heaven (John 1:1-5)
• In the beginning is the Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus is with God and Jesus is God. Jesus is in the beginning with God, and all things come into being by Him.
Earth (Matt. 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38)
• The generations from Adam to Abraham are born (Luke).
• The generations from Abraham to David are born.
• The generations from David to Joseph are born.
Jerusalem (Luke 1:5-23)
• In the days of Herod the Great, king of Judea (r. BC 37 - BC 4), a priest named Zacharias is met by the angel Gabriel in the temple as he burns incense to the Lord. The angel reveals to him that his wife Elizabeth will bear him a son and he will name him John and that he will be great and will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord in preparation for the coming of the Lord. Zacharias goes without speech because of his unbelief.
• When his priestly service ends he returns home (to a city of Judah - Luke 1:39) still unable to speak.
Judah (Luke 1:24-25)
• Elizabeth becomes pregnant and goes into seclusion for five months.
Nazareth (Matt. 1:18a, Luke 1:26-39)
• Jesus’ mother Mary is betrothed to Joseph (Matt., Luke).
• In the sixth month, God sends the angel Gabriel to the city of Nazareth of Galilee to the Virgin Mary who is engaged to Joseph. She is met by the angel Gabriel who reveals to her that she will conceive a son by the Holy Spirit and will call His name Jesus, and that He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end (Luke).
• At this time Mary goes in haste to the hill country to a city of Judah (Luke).
Judah (Luke 1:40-79)
• Mary enters the house of Zacharias and greets Elizabeth. The child in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and blesses Mary. Mary exalts the Lord.
• Mary stays three months.
• Elizabeth gives birth.
• The child is circumcised the eighth day. They want to name him Zacharias, but Elizabeth and Zacharias name him John and at once Zacharias is able to speak and is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesies that the child will be a prophet of the Most High and will prepare the way for the Lord.
• Mary returns home.
Nazareth (Matt. 1:18b-25, Luke 1:31a, John 1:14)
• Mary conceives in her womb (Luke), and Jesus becomes flesh (John). The Child is conceived sometime after she meets the angel Gabriel and before she is found to be with Child (Matt.).
• Mary is found to be with Child, and Joseph desires to put her away secretly, not wanting to disgrace her (Matt.).
• An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph and tells him to take her as his wife. Joseph arises from his sleep and takes Mary as his wife and keeps her a virgin until she gives birth (Matt.).
Bethlehem (Matt. 2:1a, Luke 1:31b, 2:1-7)
• Joseph goes up from the city of Nazareth of Galilee to Bethlehem of Judea, the city of David, to register for the first census decreed by Caesar Augustus (r. BC 27 - AD 14), and takes Mary along who is engaged to him and is with Child (Luke).
• Jesus is born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King (Matt.). Mary gives birth to her first-born Son, and she names Him Jesus, and lays Him in a manger because there is no room for them in the inn (Luke).
Judea (Luke 2:8-15)
• An angel of the Lord announces the birth of the Savior to some shepherds in the same region.
Bethlehem (Luke 2:16-21, Lev. 12:1-3)
• The shepherds come in haste to Bethlehem and find the Child in a manger and rejoice (Luke).
• After eight days the Child is circumcised (Luke, Lev.) and they name Him Jesus (Luke).
Jerusalem (Matt. 2:1b-9)
• After Jesus is born, magi are led by a star in the east and arrive in Jerusalem and ask, “Where is He who is born King of the Jews?” Herod and all Jerusalem are troubled. Herod inquires of the chief priests and scribes where the Christ is to be born and they respond, “Bethlehem”. Herod sends the magi to Bethlehem to search for Him. The star leads the magi to the Child.
Bethlehem (Matt. 2:10-12)
• They see the star and rejoice. The magi come into the house and see the Child with Mary and they worship Him and present gifts.
• The magi are warned in a dream not to return to Herod and depart for their own country (in the east) another way.
Jerusalem (Luke 2:22-38, Lev. 12:4-8)
• After the days for their purification are completed (Luke), thirty-three days after the Child is circumcised (Lev.), they bring Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (Luke).
• Simeon, in the Spirit, comes to the temple. The Child’s parents enter the temple and Simeon takes the Child and blesses God and them and says, “...the Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel and for a sign to be opposed...” The prophetess Anna comes up at that very moment and gives thanks to God (Luke).
Nazareth (Matt. 2:13-15, Luke 2:39)
• They return to Galilee to their own city of Nazareth (Luke).
• An angel of the Lord directs Joseph to take the Child and His mother to Egypt and he departs by night (Matt.).
Bethlehem (Matt. 2:16-18)
• Herod sends and slews all male children in Bethlehem from two years old and under.
Egypt (Matt. 2:19-20)
• After Herod dies (in March, BC 4), an angel of the Lord directs Joseph to go into Israel.
Israel (Matt. 2:21-22)
• Joseph takes the Child and His mother and comes into the land of Israel.
• Joseph discovers Herod Archelaus is reigning over Judea (r. BC 4 - AD 6) in place of his father.
• Joseph is warned by God in a dream and departs for Galilee.
Nazareth (Matt. 2:23, Luke 2:40,4:16a, John 20:16
• Joseph returns to Nazareth (Matt.).
• Jesus is brought up in Nazareth (Luke 4:16a), and the Child continues to grow and become strong, He increases in wisdom and the grace of God is upon Him (Luke).
• He most likely speaks Greek and Aramaic, and possibly Hebrew (John) and Latin.
Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-50)
• Every year Jesus’ parents go to Jerusalem to the Feast of the Passover, and Jesus presumably goes with them.
• When Jesus is twelve He goes with His parents to Jerusalem to the Feast of the Passover.
• As they are returning, Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem.
• After a day’s journey they realize He is not with them and return to Jerusalem.
• After three days, they find Him in the temple conversing with the teachers and ask Him why He has treated them this way. Jesus replies, “Why is it that you are looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
Nazareth (Matt. 13:55-56, 27:56, Mark 6:3, 10:35, Luke 2:51-52, John 7:15, 19:25)
• Jesus goes down with His parents to Nazareth and continues in subjection to them (Luke 2:51).
• He is brought up with His brothers, James, Joseph, Judas and Simon, and His sisters (Matt. 13:55-56, Mark 6:3). If Jesus’ mother’s sister (John 19:25) is to be identified with the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Matt. 27:56), then the sons of Zebedee, James and John (Mark 10:35) whom Jesus later selects to be apostles, are cousins of Jesus.
• He works as a carpenter and perhaps learns the trade from Joseph and works with him (Matt. 13:55, Mark 6:3). He is not educated in the rabbinical schools (John 7:15).
• He keeps increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).
Judea (Luke 1:80)
• John grows and becomes strong in spirit and lives in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Judea (Matt. 3:1-4, Mark 1:1-4, Luke 3:1-6, John 1:6-8)
• John is sent from God to be a witness to the light (John). The word of the Lord comes to John the fifteenth year (r. August 19, AD 28 - August 18, AD 29) of the reign of Tiberias Caesar (r. AD 14 - AD 37), when Pontius Pilate is governor of Judea (r. AD 26 - AD 36), and Herod Antipas is tetrarch of Galilee (r. BC 4 - AD 39), and his brother Philip is tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitus (r. BC 4 - AD 36), and Lysanias is tetrarch of Abilene in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas (Luke).
• John appears in the wilderness of Judea (Matt., Mark) in all the district around the Jordan (Luke) and preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Matt., Mark, Luke).
Jordan River (Matt. 3:5-17, Mark 1:5-11, Luke 3:7-18, 21-22, John 1:9-13, 32-33)
• Jerusalem and all Judea and the district around the Jordan go out to John and are baptized in the Jordan River (Matt., Mark, Luke). The Pharisees and Sadducees (the multitudes - Luke) come for baptism and John rebukes them for their hypocrisy (Matt., Luke). The people wonder if John is the Christ (Luke). John says to them, “... I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is mightier than I... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire...” (Matt., Mark, Luke).
• Jesus comes as the true light (John). He arrives from Nazareth in Galilee at the Jordan to be baptized (Matt., Mark). John tries to prevent Him, but Jesus permits him, and says that it is necessary in order to fulfill all righteousness (Matt.). When all the people are baptized (Luke), John also baptizes Jesus in the Jordan (Matt., Mark), and Jesus immediately comes up out of the water (Matt., Mark). Jesus prays and heaven is opened and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in bodily form (Luke). Jesus sees (Mark) and John sees (Matt., John) the Spirit of God descend from heaven like a dove and come upon Him (Matt., Mark, Luke, John). A voice from heaven says, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matt., Mark, Luke).
• Jesus is about thirty years of age when He begins His ministry (Luke). His youngest possible age at this time is thirty-two years, assuming the latest possible date of His birth (March, BC 4, shortly before the death of Herod the Great), and the earliest possible date of the beginning of His public ministry (August, AD 28, shortly after John the Baptist’s public appearance to Israel).
• He returns from the Jordan full of the Spirit (Luke).
Judea (Matt. 4:1-4, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-4)
• The Spirit immediately impels Him to go into the wilderness of Judea to be tempted by the devil (Matt., Mark).
• Jesus is led about by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days (Luke), and is tempted by Satan (Mark, Luke). He fasts (Matt., Luke), and is with wild beasts, and angels minister to Him (Mark).
• After forty days He becomes hungry (Matt., Luke).
• The devil comes and tempts Him with food in the wilderness, and Jesus resists (Matt., Luke).
Mount of Temptation (Matt. 4:8-10, Luke 4:5-8)
• The devil leads Him to a high mountain and tempts Him with the kingdoms of the world, and Jesus resists (Matthew places this temptation after the temptation in Jerusalem).
Jerusalem (Matt. 4:5-7,11, Luke 4:9-13)
• The devil leads Him to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and tempts Him with the Word of God, and Jesus resists.
• The devil departs when he is finished every temptation until an opportune time (Luke) and the angels minister to Him (Matt.).
Bethany (John 1:14-51)
• The Pharisees send priests and Levites from Jerusalem to John in Bethany beyond the Jordan to ask him who he is. John says he is not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, but one crying in the wilderness. They question why he baptizes and he answers that he baptizes with water only, and that among themselves stands One greater than he who comes after him.
• The next day John sees Jesus coming to him and proclaims Him to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He bears witness saying that he has beheld the Spirit descend from heaven and remain upon Him, and that God has declared that this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.
• The next day John looks upon Jesus as He walks and again proclaims Him to be the Lamb of God to two of His disciples. The two disciples hear Jesus speak and follow Him, and stay with Him that day. Andrew, one of the two disciples, goes to find his brother Simon and says, “We have found the Messiah”.
• Andrew brings Simon to Jesus, and Jesus says to Simon that he shall be called Cephas.
• The next day Jesus purposes to go forth into Galilee and finds Philip and says, “Follow Me”. Philip (who is from Bethsaida the city of Andrew and Peter) goes to find Nathanael and says, “We have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote”.
• Philip brings Nathanael to Jesus, and Jesus says to Nathanael that he saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him. Nathanael sees that Jesus already knows him and declares Him to be the Son of God, the King of Israel. Jesus says that he will see greater things, and shall see the heavens open and the angels of God ascend and descend on the Son of Man.
Cana (John 2:1-11)
• The third day Jesus goes to Cana of Galilee to a wedding where His mother and disciples are.
• When the wine runs out, Jesus has six waterpots filled with water, and then turns the water into wine, the beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee.
Capernaum (John 2:12)
• Jesus goes down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and disciples and stays there a few days.
Jerusalem (John 2:13-3:21)
• Jesus goes up to Jerusalem for the Passover.
• Jesus drives out the moneychangers and those selling sacrificial animals from the temple and overturns their tables. The Jews ask Jesus for a sign, and Jesus replies, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up”.
• During the feast many believe in His name.
• Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, comes to Jesus by night. Jesus tells him unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God, and that God so loved the world that He sent His Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Judea (John 3:22-4:3)
• Jesus and His disciples come into the land of Judea and there He spends time with them and they baptize.
• John also baptizes in Aenon near Salim, for he had not yet been thrown into prison.
• A Jew discusses purification with the disciples of John and the Jews ask why all are coming to Jesus for baptism. John explains that Jesus must increase and he must decrease.
• When Jesus knows the Pharisees hear that He is making and baptizing more disciples than John, He leaves Judea and departs again into Galilee.
Sychar (John 4:4-42)
• Jesus passes through Samaria and comes to a city of Samaria, called Sychar.
• He meets a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well and speaks to her about living water. He reveals to her that He knows she has had previous husbands, and that the man she now has is not her husband. He proclaims Himself to be the Christ.
• The disciples return from the city and marvel that Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman (for Jews have no dealings with Samaritans).
• The woman goes into the city and tells others about Him, and many believe in Him because of her testimony
• The disciples encourage Jesus to eat. Jesus says His food is to do the will of Him who sent Him.
• Jesus says in four months comes the harvest. It is probably January or late December at this time.
• The Samaritans come to Him and ask Him to stay, and He stays two days.
Galilee (John 4:43-45)
• After two days He goes forth from Sychar into Galilee.
• Jesus testifies a prophet has no honor in his own country (Jesus perhaps makes this statement at some other time, and is probably referring to His hometown of Nazareth).
• Jesus is received by the Galileans having seen His works in Jerusalem.
Cana (John 4:46-54)
• He comes again to Cana of Galilee.
• A royal official comes to Him and requests that He come down and heal His son in Capernaum. Jesus says, “Your son lives” and the official believes and departs, and his son is healed of his fever that very hour. This is the second sign Jesus performed when He came out of Judea into Galilee.
Judea (Matt. 4:12, Mark 1:14, Luke 4:14a)
• He evidently returns to Judea possibly to go up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths.
Galilee (Matt. 14:3-5, Mark 6:17-20, Luke 3:19-20, John 3:24)
• Herod Antipas (r. BC 4 - AD 39) enjoys listening to John the Baptist, but is very perplexed (Mark).
• John the Baptist reproves Herod for all his wickedness and tells him it is not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife, Herodias (Matt., Mark, Luke).
• Herod arrests John the Baptist and puts him in prison (in Machaerus according to Josephus).
Galilee (Matt. 4:12, Mark 1:14a, Luke 4:14)
• Jesus hears John is taken into custody (Matt., Mark) and withdraws into Galilee (Matt., Mark, Luke) in the power of the Spirit (Luke).
• News about Him spreads throughout the surrounding district (Luke).
Nazareth (Matt. 4:13-16, Luke 4:31a)
• Jesus leaves Nazareth and settles in Capernaum, a city of Galilee by the sea.
Capernaum (Matt. 4:17, Mark 4:14b-15, Luke 4:15)
• From this time He begins to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt.) and He preaches the gospel of God (Mark).
• He begins teaching in the synagogues and is praised by all (Luke).
Sea of Galilee (Matt. 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20)
• He walks by the Sea of Galilee and calls Simon Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Him.
• He goes on further and calls James and his brother John to follow Him.
Capernaum (Matt 8:14-17, Mark 1:21-34, Luke 4:31b-41)
• They go into Capernaum (Mark).
• Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus enters the synagogue and teaches, and the people are amazed. He heals a man with an unclean spirit and immediately news about Him goes out to every locality in the surrounding district of Galilee (Mark, Luke).
• Immediately after they come out of the synagogue, they come into the house of Simon and Andrew, and Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law from her fever.
• When evening comes the whole city gathers at His door and He heals many and casts out many demons
• In the early morning, Jesus departs (Mark, Luke).
Galilee (Matt. 4:23-25, Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44)
• Jesus goes to a lonely place (Mark, Luke) to pray (Mark).
• Simon hunts Him down and warns Him that the multitude is searching for Him (Mark). The multitudes search for Him and come to Him and try to keep Him from going away (Luke). Jesus says He must preach to the other cities nearby (Mark, Luke).
• Jesus goes into the synagogues throughout all Galilee teaching, preaching, casting out demons, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. Luke indicates the area covered is the Roman province of Judea, which includes both Judea and Galilee.
• News about Him spreads into all Syria and they bring to Him all who are ill, and He heals them. Great multitudes follow Him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea and from beyond the Jordan (Matt.).
Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1-11)
• Jesus stands by the Lake of Gennesaret and the multitudes press around Him to listen to the word. He gets into Simon Peter’s boat and teaches the multitudes from the boat.
• Jesus asks Peter to put out his net and Peter brings in such a great quantity of fish that they must call out to their partners James and John to help. They are amazed and leave everything and follow Him.
Mount of Beatitudes (Matt. 5:1-8:1)
• Jesus sees the multitude and goes up on the mountain. His disciples come to Him and He teaches them about future blessings to the righteous, the Law and the Prophets, hypocrisy, anxiety, judging, asking, false prophets, and the narrow path to heaven.
• Jesus comes down from the mountain and a great multitude follows Him.
Galilee (Matt. 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 5:12-16)
• Jesus heals a leper in one of the cities and warns him to tell no one.
• The leper spreads the news about him to such an extent that Jesus will no longer publicly enter a city, but stays in unpopulated areas (Mark). Jesus often slips away to the wilderness to pray (Luke).
• The people come to him from everywhere (Mark).
Capernaum (Matt. 9:2-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26)
• Jesus comes back to Capernaum (Mark).
• After several days it is heard that He is at home and many gather to Him and He speaks the word to them (Mark). Jesus sits with Pharisees and teachers of the law from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem (Luke). While Jesus is teaching, a paralytic is let down through the roof because of the crowd, and seeing his faith, Jesus forgives his sin, and the people question His authority to do this. Jesus heals the paralytic and all are astonished and glorify God.
Sea of Galilee (Matt. 9:9, Mark 2:13-14, Luke 5:27-28)
• Jesus goes out again by the seashore and the multitude follow Him and He teaches them (Mark).
• As He passes by He calls a tax-gatherer named Matthew (Levi) sitting in the tax office to follow Him. He leaves everything and follows Him.
Galilee (Matt. 9:10-17, 11:20-12:15a, Mark 2:15-3:6, Luke 5:29-6:11, 10:13-16, 21-22)
• Levi gives a large reception for Him in his house and a great crowd of tax-gatherers and sinners recline with them. The Pharisees and their scribes question His disciples about this, and Jesus says that He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
• John’s disciples come to Him and ask Him why His disciples do not fast, and Jesus replies (Matt., Luke).
• He reproaches the cities where most of His miracles were done, Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, and says that Tyre and Sidon, and Sodom of old, would have repented if they had seen the same miracles (Matt., Luke).
• He praises the Father that He hides things from the wise and reveals them to babes (Matt., Luke), and invites the heavy-laden to come to Him for His yoke is easy and His load is light (Matt.).
• He passes through the grainfields on the Sabbath and the Pharisees ask Him why His disciples pick grain on the Sabbath. Jesus sites the account of David eating the consecrated bread when he became hungry and is innocent (Matt., Mark, Luke). He also replies, “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark).
• He enters a synagogue on the Sabbath and heals a man with a withered hand and immediately the Pharisees counsel with the Herodians as to how they might kill Him for healing on the Sabbath.
• Jesus, aware of this, departs from there (Matt.).
Sea of Galilee (Matt. 12:15b-21, Mark 3:7-12)
• Jesus withdraws to the sea with His disciples (Mark) and a great multitude follow Him (Matt, Mark) from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon (Mark).
• A boat is prepared for Jesus to keep the multitude from crowding Him. The unclean spirits declare Him to be the Son of God (Mark). He heals many, and warns them not to make Him known.
Galilee (Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-7:1)
• At this time Jesus goes up to the mountain (Mark, Luke) and spends the whole night in prayer (Luke)
• When day comes (Luke), He summons His disciples and appoints twelve (Mark, Luke), whom He names as apostles (Luke), that they might be with Him, and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to cast out demons (Mark).
• He descends with them and stands on a level place, and there is a great multitude from Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon (Luke).
• He heals those with diseases and presents a discourse before the people. He teaches them about future blessings to the righteous and judgments to the wicked, and about loving your enemies (Luke).
• When He finishes His discourse He goes to Capernaum (Luke).
Capernaum (Matt. 8:5-13, Luke 7:2-10)
• Jesus enters Capernaum, and a centurion comes to Him recognizing His authority to heal by just speaking His word, and asks Him to heal His servant who is about to die. Jesus says He has not found such great faith in all of Israel and heals him.
Nain (Luke 7:11-17)
• Soon afterwards He goes to a city called Nain with His disciples and a large multitude.
• He sees a dead man being carried from the city, the only son of a widow, and He raises him up and returns him to His mother. They all glorify God and say, “a great prophet has risen among us”.
• This report about Him goes out all over Judea and in the surrounding district.
Galilee (Matt. 11:2-19, Mark 15:41a, Luke 7:18-8:3)
• The disciples of John report these things to John.
• John sends his disciples to Jesus to ask if He is the Expected One.
• Jesus sends them back to John and tells them to report what they see and hear.
• When John’s disciples leave, Jesus speaks to the multitude about John, and says that the prophets and the law prophesied until John, and that he himself is Elijah who is to come.
• Jesus dines at the home of Simon, a Pharisee, and a woman in the city, who is a sinner, kisses Jesus’ feet, and anoints them with perfume and with her tears. Jesus says that, he who is forgiven much, loves much, and he who is forgiven little, loves little. Jesus forgives the sins of the woman, and those present question His authority to do this (Luke).
• Soon afterwards He goes about from one city and village to another proclaiming the kingdom of God with the twelve and with Mary Magdalene and others (Luke). Many women follow Him and minister to Him in Galilee (Mark 15:41a).
Capernaum (Matt. 12:22-50, Mark 3:20-35, Luke 8:19-21,11:14-36)
• Jesus comes home and once again the multitude gathers (Mark).
• A demon-possessed man who is dumb (and blind – Matt.) is brought to Him and He heals Him so that he now speaks (and sees – Matt.). The multitudes marvel and ask if Jesus could be the Son of David (Matt., Luke). Luke places this event during Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem for the final Passover.
• Scribes from Jerusalem (Mark), and the Pharisees, when they hear (Matt.), say Jesus casts out demons by the ruler of the demons. Jesus says to them the Spirit of God casts out Satan, and not Satan against Satan, therefore the kingdom of God has come upon them (Matt., Mark, Luke). The Pharisees ask for a sign, and Jesus replies, an evil generation craves for a sign, but no sign will be given except the sign of the Son of Man three days and three nights in the earth (Matt., Luke). A woman in the crowd says, “Blessed is the womb that bore You…” Luke places this event during Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem for the final Passover.
• His mother and brothers come to Him and are not able to get to Him because of the crowd. Jesus answers, whoever does the will of God, he is His brother and sister and mother. Luke places this following the parable of the sower.
Sea of Galilee (Matt. 13:1-35, Mark 4:1-34, Luke 8:4-18)
• On that day, Jesus goes out of the house and sits by the sea, and great multitudes gather to Him, and He teaches them many things in parables from inside the boat, including the parables of the sower (Matt., Mark, Luke), the lamp (Mark, Luke), the measure, the seed, the tares, the mustard seed, and the leaven (Matt.).
• His followers and the twelve come to Him and ask Him about the parables, and Jesus explains the parable of the sower (Matt., Mark, Luke). He explains everything privately to His disciples (Mark)
Capernaum (Matt. 13:36-53)
• He leaves the multitude and goes into the house.
• Jesus explains to his disciples the parables.
Sea of Galilee (Matt. 8:18-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25, 9:57-62)
• On that day at evening (Mark), or on another day (Luke), Jesus sees the crowd (Matt.) and gives orders to go to the other side of the lake (Matt., Mark, Luke).
• A scribe comes to Jesus and wants to follow Him wherever He goes, and another disciple wants to first go bury his father and then follow Him (Matt., Luke) and a third disciple wants to first say good-bye to those at home and then follow Him (Luke). Jesus speaks to each one concerning the cost of discipleship (Matt., Luke). Luke places these encounters during Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem for the final Passover.
• Jesus and the disciples leave the multitude and launch out for the other side (Matt., Mark, Luke), and other boats are with Him (Mark).
• A great storm arises and Jesus is awakened by His disciples and He rebukes the winds and the sea and it becomes calm. The disciples are amazed and afraid.
Gerasa/Gadara (Matt. 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39)
• They sail to the other side of the sea into the country of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes - Matt.) which is opposite Galilee.
• Immediately, Jesus is met by a man (or two - Matt.) possessed with demons, and at the request of the demons, He permits them to leave the man and enter into a herd of swine, and the swine are driven into the sea and drown. The herdsmen report it in the city and in the country.
• When the people come out to meet Him, they become frightened and ask Jesus to depart from their region
• Jesus does not permit the healed man to follow Him, but tells Him to proclaim to his own people what great things God has done for him, and he begins to proclaim in the city (Luke) and in Decapolis (Mark).
Sea of Galilee (Matt. 9:1, Mark 5:21a, Luke 8:40a)
• Jesus returns (Luke). They cross over again in the boat to the other side (Matt., Mark) to His own city (Matt.).
Capernaum (Matt. 9: 18-19, Mark 5:21b-23, Luke 8:40b-8:42a)
• A great multitude gathers to Him on the seashore and welcomes Him (Mark, Luke).
• Jairus, one of the synagogue officials, entreats Him to come heal his daughter who is dying (or has died - Matt.).
Galilee (Matt. 9:20-34, Mark 5:24-43, Luke 8:42b-56)
• As Jesus follows Jairus with His disciples, the multitude follows Him and press in on Him, and a woman having a hemorrhage for twelve years touches His cloak and is healed.
• Jairus is informed that his daughter has died, and Jesus tells him to believe (Matt., Mark, Luke). He allows Peter, James and John to follow (Mark, Luke).
• They come to the house of Jairus, and enter the house. Jesus raises the child up, and they are astonished (Matt., Mark, Luke). He gives strict orders to tell no one (Mark, Luke), but news spreads through all that land (Matt.).
• As Jesus passes on, two blind men follow Him and plead for mercy. He comes into the house and heals both men according to their faith, and warns them to let know one know about it. Both men go out and spread the news about Him in all the land (Matt.).
• As they are going out, a dumb man, demon possessed is brought to Him. Jesus casts out the demon and the multitudes marvel (Matt.).
Nazareth (Matt. 13:54-58, Mark 6:1-6a, Luke 4:16-30)
• He comes to Nazareth where He was brought up, and His disciples follow. Luke places this visit to Nazareth at the start of His public ministry in Galilee.
• On the Sabbath, He begins to teach in the synagogue and the listeners are astonished and take offense at Him (Matt., Mark, Luke). He announces they will reject Him (Luke) and the synagogue is filled with rage and they cast Him out of the city. They attempt to throw Him down a cliff, but He goes His way (Luke).
Machaerus (Matt. 14:6-12a, Mark 6:21-29)
• On Herod’s birthday, Herod gives a banquet, and the daughter of Herodias dances before him. Herod promises by oath to give her whatever she asks, and at the request of her mother, she asks for the head of John the Baptist on a platter (Matt., Mark).
• Immediately Herod sends and has John the Baptist beheaded in prison, and his disciples bury his body. The head is brought to the girl and the girl brings the head to her mother (Matt., Mark).
Galilee (Matt. 9:35-11:1, 14:1-2, 12b, Mark 6:6b-16, 30-31, Luke 9:1-10a)
• Jesus goes about in all the cities and villages and teaches in their synagogues (Matt., Mark), and proclaims the gospel and heals every kind of disease and sickness (Matt.).
• He summons His twelve disciples and gives them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every kind of disease and sickness.
• He instructs them to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and warns them that all will hate them. He says that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for any city that does not receive them. He also says they shall not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes (Matt.).
• He sends out the twelve in pairs (Matt., Mark, Luke). The disciples depart and go about the villages, and preach the gospel, cast out demons, and heal the sick (Mark, Luke). Jesus departs and teaches and preaches in their cities (Matt.).
• Jesus’ name becomes well known (Mark) and Herod hears of it at this time (Matt., Mark, Luke). People say Jesus is John the Baptist; others say He is Elijah or a prophet (Mark, Luke). Herod keeps trying to see Him (Luke) and believes He is John the Baptist risen from the dead (Matt., Mark, Luke).
• The disciples return from the villages and report to Jesus what they did and taught (Mark, Luke).
• John’s disciples report to Jesus about John the Baptist (Matt.).
Sea of Galilee (Matt. 14:13a, Mark 6:32a, Luke 9:10b, John 6:1)
• When Jesus hears about John the Baptist (Matt.), He withdraws from there (Matt., Mark, Luke) in a boat (Matt., Mark) with the twelve (Luke) and goes to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (John) to Bethsaida (Luke).
Gaulanitis (Matt. 14:13b-23, Mark 6:32b-46,52, Luke 9:11-17, John 6:2-15)
• The people see them and run on foot and get there ahead of them (Mark).
• They come to a lonely place by themselves (Matt., Mark) to rest a while (Mark), and the multitudes follow Him there (Matt., Luke, John).
• Jesus sees the multitude, and teaches them many things (Mark) about the kingdom of God (Luke) and heals the sick (Matt., Luke).
• Jesus goes up on the mountain, and the Passover is at hand (John).
• As the day begins to decline (Luke), when it is already quite late (Mark), at evening (Matt.), Jesus commands the multitude to sit on the green grass (indicating it is spring) (Mark) and feeds 5000 men with five loaves and two fish (Matt., Mark, Luke, John). The people declare that Jesus is the Prophet who is to come (John). The disciples do not gain insight, but their heart is hardened (Mark 6:52).
• Jesus immediately makes His disciples get into the boat and to go on ahead of Him (Matt., Mark) to the other side to Bethsaida (Mark).
• Jesus perceives they want to take Him by force and make Him king (John), He withdraws again to the mountain (Matt., Mark, John) alone (John), to pray (Matt., Mark).
• At evening He is on the mountain alone (Matt.).
Sea of Galilee (Matt. 14:24-33, Mark 6:47-51, John 6:16-21)
• At evening His disciples go down to the sea and cross the sea to Capernaum (John).
• When it is already dark, the sea stirs up because of a strong wind (John).
• Jesus is alone on the land (Mark), and sees them struggle with the boat, for the wind is against them (Matt., Mark).
• In the fourth watch of the night (Matt., Mark), when they are at considerable distance from land (Matt., John), Jesus walks to them on the sea, and they all see Him and are frightened (Matt., Mark, John).
• At Peter’s request, Jesus commands Peter to walk to Him, and Peter walks to Him on the water (Matt.)
• They get into the boat (Matt., Mark, John) and the wind stops (Matt., Mark) and immediately they are at the land to which they are going (John). They are greatly astonished (Mark) and worship him (Matt.).
Gennesaret (Matt. 14:34-35, Mark 6:53-55)
• They cross over and come to land at Gennesaret.
• Immediately (Mark) the people recognize Him and run about this whole country and carry the sick to Him (Matt., Mark).
Capernaum (John 6:17a, 22-65)
• Jesus comes to Capernaum (John 6:17a) nearby.
• The next day the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea and others from Tiberias come to Capernaum.
• Jesus teaches in the synagogue in Capernaum. He tells those that seek Him to work not for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life. He says the Father gives the true bread out of heaven, and that He Himself is the Bread of Life that has come down out of heaven, and gives eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Galilee (John 6:66-71)
• Many disciples withdraw and walk with Him no more, but the twelve believe He is the Holy One of God. Jesus indicates that one of the twelve is a devil.
Jerusalem (John 5:1-47)
• Jesus goes up to Jerusalem to the feast of the Jews. Jesus may have made this visit to Jerusalem at a later time.
• Jesus sees a lame man in the Pools of Bethesda on the Sabbath and asks him if he wishes to get well. The man replies hopelessly, and Jesus tells him to arise and walk and immediately the man is made well and walks. Jesus slips away through the crowd and the man does not know who heals him, and the Jews question him.
• Jesus finds the man in the temple and tells him not to sin anymore so that nothing worse may befall him. The man tells the Jews it is Jesus who made him well.
• The Jews persecute Jesus because he heals on the Sabbath. Jesus answers the Jews and says, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working”. The Jews seek to kill Him because He calls God His Father and makes Himself equal with God. Jesus says to them that He imitates the Father, and like the Father, He has authority to give life or to judge, and to receive honor. He says that an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs shall be raised to eternal life or to eternal judgment. He also says that His witness is greater than John’s, that neither the word of God nor the love of God abides in them, that they do not seek God’s glory, and that the one who accuses them is Moses.
Galilee (Matt. 14:36, Mark 6:56, John 7:1)
• Jesus walks in Galilee for He is unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews seek to kill Him (John). He enters villages, cities, and the countryside, (Mark) and as many as touch His cloak are healed (Matt., Mark).
Capernaum (Matt. 15:1-20, Mark 7:1-23)
• Pharisees and scribes come to Jesus from Jerusalem and question Him as to why His disciples transgress the tradition of the elders and eat with unwashed hands. Jesus exposes their hypocrisy, and asks them why they transgress the commandment of God in order to keep their traditions (Matt., Mark). The Pharisees take offense (Matt.).
• He then calls the multitude to Him and says, “not what goes into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth.”
• He leaves the multitude and enters the house (Mark) in Capernaum.
• Peter and the disciples question Him about the parable.
• Jesus arises from here (Matt., Mark) and withdraws into the district of Tyre and Sidon (Matt.).
Tyre (Matt. 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30)
• Jesus arises and comes to the district of Tyre (and Sidon - Matt.).
• A Canaanite/Syrophoenician woman beseeches the Lord to heal her demon-possessed daughter, and though she is a gentile, because of her great faith Jesus says the word and her daughter is healed.
Sidon (Matt. 11:21-22, Mark 7:31a, Luke 10:13)
• He goes out from the region of Tyre, and goes through Sidon (Mark).
• He possibly performs miracles in Sidon, but probably not many (Matt., Luke).
Sea of Galilee (Mark 7:31b-37)
• He comes to the Sea of Galilee within the region of Decapolis.
• One who is deaf and dumb is brought to Him, and He heals him, and the people are astonished. He orders them to tell no one, but the more He orders them, the more widely they continue to proclaim it.
Galilee (Matt. 15:29-39a, Mark 8:1-10a)
• He goes along by the Sea of Galilee and goes up the mountain (Matt.). In those days when there is a great multitude (Mark) they come to Him with those who are lame, crippled, blind and dumb, and He heals them, and they glorify the God of Israel (Matt.).
• The multitudes remain with Him three days and have nothing to eat. He feeds the 4000 with seven loaves and a few fish and sends them away.
• Immediately Jesus enters the boat with His disciples (Mark).
Dalmanutha/Magadan (Matt. 15:39b-16:4, Mark 8:10b-12)
• Jesus comes to the region of Magadan (Matt.) or to the district of Dalmanutha (Mark).
• The Pharisees (and Sadducees - Matt.) come out to Him (presumably from Jerusalem) and ask Him for a sign in order to test Him. Jesus says no sign will be given them except the sign of Jonah, and He leaves them.
Sea of Galilee (Matt. 16:5-12, Mark 8:13-21)
• Jesus and the disciples again embark and go away to the other side (of the Sea of Galilee).
• The disciples forget to bring bread. Jesus tells them to beware of the leaven (or teaching) of the Pharisees and Sadducees (leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod - Mark), but the disciples think He is speaking to them about bread. Jesus reminds them of how He multiplied the loaves when He fed the 5000 men and the 4000 men.
Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26)
• They come to Bethsaida.
• A blind man is brought to Jesus and Jesus leads him outside of the village and heals him, and sends him away from the village.
Caesarea Philippi (Matt. 16:13-28, Mark 8:27-9:1, Luke 9:18-9:27)
• Jesus goes out with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi (Matt., Mark).
• On the way (Mark) He prays alone (Luke) and then asks His disciples who people say that He is. The disciples reply, “John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets.” Jesus asks, “but who do you say that I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ” (Matt., Mark, Luke). Jesus says, “Upon this rock I shall build My church” (Matt.).
• From this time (Matt.) He begins to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem to suffer, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter rebukes Jesus, and Jesus turns to Peter and rebukes Satan.
• Jesus summons the multitude (Mark) with the disciples and instructs them concerning denying oneself daily and losing ones own life for His sake.
Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-37a)
• Six days later (or some eight days after - Luke) Jesus takes Peter, James and John to a high mountain (perhaps Mt. Hermon, where Caesarea Philippi is situated, or the traditional site of Mt. Tabor).
• Jesus prays (Luke) and His face and garments are transfigured before them. Moses and Elijah appear with Him, and speak of His departure that He will accomplish in Jerusalem. A cloud forms around them and a voice comes out of the cloud saying, “This is my Son, My Chosen One. Listen to Him!” (Matt., Mark, Luke). The disciples become terrified (Matt., Mark).
• The next day (Luke) as they come down from the mountain (Matt., Mark, Luke) Jesus warns them to tell the vision to no one until He is risen from the dead (Matt., Mark). The disciples question Him about Elijah, and Jesus tells them Elijah has already come (Matt., Mark). The disciples understand Him to be speaking of John the Baptist (Matt.).
Caesarea Philippi (Matt. 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29, Luke 9:37b-43a)
• They come back to the disciples, perhaps still in Caesarea Philippi (Mark), and meet a great multitude.
• A man comes up to Jesus and begs Him to heal his son. Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit and heals the boy.
• He comes into the house (Mark) and the disciples ask Him privately why they could not cast out the demon (Matt., Mark). Jesus says because of the littleness of their faith (Matt.) and because this kind does not come out by anything but prayer (Mark).
Galilee (Matt. 17:22-23, Mark 9:30-9:32,33b-34, Luke 9:43b-46)
• From there they go out and begin to go through Galilee and Jesus is unwilling for anyone to know (Mark).
• While they gather together in Galilee (Matt.), Jesus announces to His disciples He will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him and He will rise three days later (Matt., Mark, Luke), but the disciples grieve (Matt.), and do not understand and are afraid to ask (Mark, Luke). Luke places this announcement back in Caesarea Philippi before leaving for Galilee, while everyone is marveling after He heals a boy there.
• On the way to Capernaum (Mark) the disciples dispute with one another which of them is the greatest (Mark, Luke).
Capernaum (Matt. 17:24-18:35, Mark 9:33-50, Luke 9:47-50)
• They come to Capernaum (Matt., Mark) and Jesus comes into the house and questions His disciples about what they were discussing on the way, but they keep silent. Jesus calls the twelve and says to them, if anyone wants to be first, he shall be last and servant of all (Mark). He takes a child and says, if anyone receives this child, he receives Me and He who sent Me, for he who is least among you is the greatest (Mark, Luke). Jesus teaches them about the reward to those that receive them, and the judgment to those that cause the little ones to stumble (Matt., Mark) and gives instruction on church authority and reproving those that sin (Matt.).
• John says they tried to hinder someone casting out demons in His name. Jesus says, “do not hinder, for he who is not against you is for you” (Mark, Luke).
• Tax collectors come to Peter and ask if his Teacher pays the temple tax, and Peter comes into the house. Jesus tells him to pay the tax for both of them with a shekel he shall find in the belly of a fish (Matt.).
• Peter comes to Jesus and asks, “how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him, seven times?” Jesus answers, “seventy times seven”, and teaches about repentance and forgiveness (Matt.).
Galilee (John 7:2-9)
• The Feast of Booths is at hand, and His brothers urge Him to show Himself to the world. Jesus says His time has not yet fully come and does not go with them to the feast, but stays in Galilee.
Judea (Matt. 19:1a, Mark 10:1a, John 7:10)
• When His brothers go up to the feast, Jesus also goes up, not publicly, but in secret (John). Jesus departs from Galilee (Matt.) and comes into the region of Judea (Matt., Mark).
Jerusalem (John 7:11-53)
• The Jews seek Jesus at the feast, and there is much grumbling among the multitudes concerning Him.
• When it is now the midst of the feast, Jesus enters the temple and begins to teach, and the Jews marvel. Jesus accuses the multitude of seeking to kill him, and they say He has a demon. The chief priests and the Pharisees send officers to seize Him, but His hour does not yet come, and many believe in Him.
• On the last day, the great day of the feast, He cries out concerning the Spirit that will be poured out. A division arises among the multitude concerning Him. Some say He is the Prophet, others the Christ, others say the Christ cannot come from Galilee, but from Bethlehem. The officers do not seize Him because of the manner in which He speaks.
Mount of Olives (John 8:1)
• Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives.
Jerusalem (Matt. 19:3-12, Mark 10:2-12, Luke 10:25-37, John 8:2-10:21)
• Early in the morning He comes again into the temple and teaches. The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery to Him in order to test Him, and ask if she should be stoned according to the Law of Moses. Jesus does not condemn her (John).
• Crowds gather around Jesus and He begins to teach (Mark). Pharisees come to Him and test Him and ask Him if it is lawful to divorce a wife (Matt., Mark) for any cause (Matt.). Jesus replies that Moses permitted divorce because of their sin, and that man is not to separate what God has joined together (Matt., Mark). This incident occurs before Jesus no longer walks publicly among the Jews (John 11:54), perhaps during or after the Feast of Booths, or two and a half months later at the Feast of the Dedication.
• The Pharisees question Jesus in the treasury as He teaches in the temple. They say His witness is not true because He bears witness of Himself. Jesus says His witness is true, for both He and His Father bear witness of Him. They ask Him, “Who are you?” and He tells them He is from above, and that God is His Father, and they are from the world, and the devil is their father. They say He has a demon, and pick up stones to throw at Him, but He hides Himself and goes out of the temple. Many believe in Him (John).
• On the Sabbath, He passes by and sees a blind man and tells Him to wash in the Pool of Siloam, and the man goes and washes and returns seeing. The man’s neighbors bring him to the Pharisees who question him and his parents, and they put him out of the synagogue because he confesses Jesus to be the Christ. Jesus hears they put him out, and finds him, and reveals to him that He is the Son of Man, and the man worships Him. The Pharisees question Jesus further, and Jesus teaches them in figures, and there arises a division again among the Jews (John).
• A certain lawyer puts Jesus to the test and asks what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds (Luke).
Bethany (Luke 10:38-42)
• Jesus enters a certain village and Martha welcomes Him into her home. Martha asks Jesus if He cares her sister Mary leaves her to do all the serving alone, and Jesus responds.
Mount of Olives (Luke 11:1-13)
• Jesus prays in a certain place, and when He is finished, His disciples ask Him to teach them to pray, and He teaches them.
Jerusalem (Luke 11:37-38, 11:53-12:12, John 10:22-39)
• He has lunch with a Pharisee, and the Pharisee is surprised He does not ceremonially wash before the meal. Jesus speaks to him and condemns the Pharisees. A lawyer replies that he is insulted too. Jesus condemns the lawyers as well (Luke).
• Jesus leaves and the Pharisees begin to be very hostile and question Him about many subjects to catch Him in what He might say (Luke).
• He warns His disciples of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Luke).
• At that time (two and a half months following the Feast of Booths) the Feast of the Dedication takes place in Jerusalem and it is winter. Jesus walks in the temple in the portico of Solomon and the Jews ask Him if He is the Christ, and He replies, “the Father and I are one”. They pick up stones again to stone Him, for He makes Himself out to be God, and again they seek to seize Him, but He eludes their grasp (John).
Bethabara (Matt. 19:1b-2, Mark 10:1b-c, John 10:40-11:16)
• Jesus goes away again into the region beyond the Jordan (Matt., Mark, John) to the place where John the Baptist was first baptizing (John).
• Jesus stays here (John) and great multitudes follow Him (Matt., John) and He heals them (Matt.) and once again He begins to teach them (Mark), and many believe in Him (John).
• Jesus is informed that Lazarus in Bethany is sick and waits two days longer in the place where He is (John).
• He decides to go to Judea again, and the disciples question Him about this since the Jews there were just now seeking to stone Him (John).
Bethany (John 11:17-46)
• Jesus comes to Bethany near Jerusalem and finds Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days. Martha and Mary come to Him outside the village, and when Jesus sees Mary and the Jews weeping, He too weeps and comes to the tomb. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, and many Jews believe in Him, but others go and tell the Pharisees.
Jerusalem (John 11:47-53)
• The chief priests and the Pharisees convene a council, for they fear that all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away their place and their nation, and from this day on, they plan to kill Him. Caiaphas, the high priest this year, prophesies that one man should die for the nation, and gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. This prophesy may have been made earlier in the year.
Ephraim (John 11:54)
• Jesus no longer walks publicly among the Jews, but goes to the country near the wilderness into a city called Ephraim.
Judea (Luke 9:51-52a)
• As the days approach for His ascension, Jesus resolutely sets His face to go to Jerusalem and sends messengers ahead of Him.
Samaria (Luke 9:52b-56a)
• The disciples enter a village of Samaria to make arrangements for Him.
• The Samaritans do not receive Him because He is journeying with His face toward Jerusalem. James and John ask if they should command fire to come down from heaven to consume them, and Jesus rebukes them.
Samaria and Galilee (Luke 9:56b, 10:1-12, 17-20, 12:13-18:14)
• They go on to another village.
• Jesus appoints seventy others and gives them instructions, and sends them out in twos to every city He will be coming to. The seventy return with joy and say that even the demons are subject to them in His name. Jesus tells them not to rejoice that the demons are subject to them, but that their names are written in heaven.
• Someone in the crowd asks Jesus to tell his brother to divide the family inheritance with him, and Jesus says that He is not judge over him.
• On the same occasion, some report to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices. Jesus explains that these Galileans are no worse than all Galileans or those in Jerusalem. He humiliates His opponents and the multitude rejoices.
• He teaches in a synagogue on the Sabbath, and heals a woman who, for eighteen years, has had a sickness caused by a spirit, and the synagogue official becomes indignant because He heals on the Sabbath.
• He passes through one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem.
• Someone asks Him if only a few will be saved.
• At this time Pharisees come and ask Him to depart and say that Herod wants to kill Him. Jesus sends them to Herod with a message.
• He goes into the house of a leader of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread. They watch Him closely, and Jesus heals a man with dropsy.
• Great multitudes go along with Him and He speaks to them about the cost of discipleship.
• Tax-gatherers and sinners come near Him to listen and the Pharisees and scribes grumble because He receives them.
• He teaches a parable about an unrighteous steward and the Pharisees who are lovers of money scoff at Him.
• He speaks to His disciples about stumbling blocks and forgiving those that sin against you. The disciples ask Him to increase their faith.
• He passes through Samaria and Galilee on His way to Jerusalem.
• He enters a certain village and heals ten lepers, but only one, a Samaritan, gives glory to God.
• The Pharisees ask Him when the kingdom of God is coming, and Jesus answers and says it will not come with signs to be observed. He says to His disciples that it will be just like the days of Noah and the days of Lot.
• He tells His disciples that at all times they ought to pray and not lose heart.
• He speaks concerning certain ones who trust in themselves that they are righteous and view others with contempt.
Judea and Perea (Matt. 19:13-20:28, Mark 10:13-45, Luke 18:15-34)
• The multitude bring children to Jesus that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuke them. Jesus corrects His disciples and blesses the children, and says whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it (Matt., Mark, Luke), and He departs (Matt.).
• As Jesus sets out on a journey (Mark), a rich, young ruler comes to Him and asks Him what good thing he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments, and to forsake earthly wealth and follow Him. He teaches His disciples about earthly riches, and the cost of discipleship, and eternal life (Matt., Mark, Luke), and teaches them the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matt.).
• Jesus takes the twelve aside and tells them they are going up to Jerusalem, and that He will suffer and be killed and will rise again on the third day (Matt., Mark, Luke). His disciples understand none of this (Luke).
• The mother of James and John comes to Him with her sons and asks that He grant that her sons sit on His left and right side in the kingdom of God. Jesus says that this is not His to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared, and the ten feel indignant with James and John. Jesus teaches them that whoever wishes to be great among them must be servant of all (Matt., Mark).
Jericho (Matt. 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-19:28)
• He approaches Jericho (or goes out from Jericho - Matt., Mark) with His disciples and a great multitude, and a blind man (Mark, Luke) named Bartimaeus (Luke), and another blind man (Matt.) cry out to Him against opposition from the multitude. Jesus stops and calls for them and heals them, and immediately they follow Him (Matt., Mark, Luke).
• He enters and passes through Jericho, and stays at the house of a chief tax-gatherer named Zaccheus, and the people grumble because He goes to be the guest of a sinner. Zaccheus renounces his sins, and Jesus declares that today salvation has come to his house, and speaks about faithful discipleship (Luke).
• Jesus goes on ahead and ascends to Jerusalem (Luke).
Jerusalem (John 11:55-57, 12:10-11)
• The Passover is at hand, and many go up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves. The chief priests and the Pharisees give orders to report to them any knowledge of His whereabouts so that they might seize Him. Those in the temple wonder if Jesus will come at all to the feast. The chief priests take counsel to put Lazarus to death also, for many Jews on account of him believe in Jesus.
Thursday, March 18, AD 33 (Nisan 8/9)
Bethany (Matt. 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-9)
• Six days before the Passover, Jesus comes to Bethany where Lazarus is (John) and reclines in the home of Simon the leper (Matt., Mark). They make Him a supper there, and Martha serves Him (John). Mary anoints Him with very costly perfume (Matt., Mark, John), and Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples (who is a thief and intends to betray Him) becomes indignant (John). Jesus indicates she is keeping the custom of anointing for His burial (Matt., Mark, John). Matthew and Mark place this incident two days before the Passover.
• The Jews learn that Jesus is in Bethany, and come to see Him and Lazarus (John).
Friday, March 19, AD 33 (Nisan 9/10)
Bethany (John 12:12-13)
• On the next day the multitude hears that Jesus is coming to Jerusalem, and they go out to meet Him with palm branches (presumably to Bethany) and hail Him as the King of Israel.
Bethphage (Matt. 21:1-8, Mark 11:1-8, Luke 19:29-36, John 12:14-16)
• Jesus and His disciples approach Jerusalem at Bethphage (and Bethany - Mark, Luke) near the Mount of Olives.
• Jesus sends two disciples into the village opposite them (presumably Bethphage) to get a colt (Matt., Mark, Luke) and a donkey (Matt.), and He sits upon them.
Mount of Olives (Matt. 21:9, Mark 11:9-10, Luke 19:37-44, John 12:17-19)
• As He approaches near the descent of the Mount of Olives (Luke) the multitudes bless Him (Matt., Mark) and hail Him as the King of Israel (Luke) and bless the coming kingdom of David (Mark)
• As He approaches, He sees the city and weeps over it, and declares that the city will be destroyed because they did not recognize the time of their visitation (Luke).
Jerusalem (Mark 11:11a)
• He enters Jerusalem and comes into the temple and looks all around.
Bethany (Mark 11:11b)
• He departs for Bethany with the twelve since it is already late.
Saturday, March 20, AD 33 (Nisan 10/11)
Bethany (Matt. 21:18-19, Mark 11:12-14)
• On the next day (Mark) in the morning (Matt.) Jesus departs from Bethany (Mark) and returns to the city (Matt.).
• He sees at a distance (Mark) along the road (Matt.) a fig tree in full leaf but with no fruit and says, “may no one ever eat fruit from you again!” (Matt., Mark) and at once the fig tree withers (Matt.).
Jerusalem (Matt. 21:10-16, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-48)
• He enters Jerusalem (Matt., Mark) and the whole city is stirred (Matt.).
• He enters the temple and casts out those who are buying and selling (Matt., Mark, Luke), and overturns the table of the moneychangers, and the seats of those selling doves (Matt., Mark) and does not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple (Mark). He declares that His house shall be called a house of prayer (Matt., Mark, Luke).
• He teaches daily in the temple (Luke). The chief priests and scribes (and leading men - Mark) seek how they might destroy Him, but are afraid of Him, for all the multitude are astonished at His teaching (Mark, Luke).
• The blind and lame come to Him in the temple, and He heals them. The children praise Him in the temple, and the chief priests and scribes become indignant (Matt.).
Bethany (Matt. 21:17, Mark 11:19)
• When evening comes (Mark) He and His disciples go out of the city (Matt., Mark) and lodge in Bethany (Matt.).
Sunday, March 21, AD 33 (Nisan 11/12)
Bethany (Matt. 21:20-22, Mark 11:20-26)
• In the morning they pass by and see the fig tree, and Peter remarks that it has withered (Mark) and the disciples marvel (Matt.). Jesus teaches them about faith.
Jerusalem (Luke 21:37a, John 12:20-50)
• During the day Jesus teaches in the temple (Luke).
• Certain Greeks come to worship at the feast and want to see Jesus. Philip and Andrew bring them to Jesus, and Jesus says the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified, and a voice comes out of heaven and says, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” Jesus departs and hides Himself from them (John).
• Jesus performs many signs, but they do not believe in Him. Many of the rulers believe, but because of the Pharisees they do not confess Him, lest they be put out of the synagogue (John).
• Jesus cries out about the coming judgment (John).
Mount of Olives (Luke 21:37b)
• In the evening, He spends the night on the Mount of Olives.
Monday, March 22, AD 33 (Nisan 12/13)
Jerusalem (Matt. 21:23-24:2, Mark 11:27-13:2, Luke 20:1-21:6,38)
• Early in the morning all the people get up and come to the temple to listen to Him (Luke 21:38).
• On one of the days (Luke) they come again to Jerusalem (Mark) and Jesus comes into the temple (Matt., Mark) and teaches (Matt., Luke). The chief priests, and scribes, and elders come to Him and ask Him by what authority He is doing these things. Jesus speaks in opposition to them, and they seek to seize Him (Matt., Mark, Luke) that very hour (Luke), but they fear the multitude (Matt., Mark, Luke) because they hold Him to be a prophet (Matt.), and leave Him and go away (Mark).
• They send Pharisees and Herodians to Him to trap Him in a statement (Mark) so as to deliver Him up to the governor (Luke). They test Him with a question about whether it is lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, and they are amazed at His answer (Matt., Mark, Luke) and become silent (Luke) and go their way (Matt.).
• On that day (Matt.), Sadducees come and question Him about the resurrection and Jesus answers (Matt., Mark, Luke), and tells them they are greatly mistaken (Matt., Mark). The people are astonished at His teaching (Matt.)
• A Pharisee (Matt.) or a scribe (Mark) tests Jesus with a question about which is the greatest commandment and Jesus answers (Matt., Mark).
• Jesus teaches in the temple (Mark) and asks the Pharisees a question (Matt.) about how the scribes say the Christ is the son of David (Mark). The crowd enjoys listening to Him (Mark).
• Jesus speaks to the multitudes and His disciples about the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt., Mark).
• Jesus sits down opposite the treasury (Mark), and sees the rich putting gifts into the treasury, and sees a poor widow put in two copper coins, and says that she gave more than all the others (Mark, Luke).
• Jesus comes out of the temple (Matt., Mark), and a disciple (or His disciples - Matt., Luke) points out the temple buildings to Him, and Jesus remarks that every stone shall be torn down (Matt., Mark, Luke).
Mount of Olives (Matt. 24:3-26:2, Mark 13:3-37, Luke 21:7-36)
• Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives (Matt., Mark) opposite the temple (Mark) and His disciples (Matt.), Peter, James, John, and Andrew (Mark) question Him privately about when these things will be (Matt., Mark, Luke), and what will be the sign when all these things are fulfilled (Mark, Luke), and what will be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age (Matt.). Jesus teaches them.
• Jesus says to His disciples that after two days the Passover is coming and He will be delivered up for crucifixion (Matt.).
Jerusalem (Matt. 26:3-5,14-16, Mark 14:1-2, 10-11, Luke 22:1-6)
• The Feast of Unleavened Bread called the Passover (Luke) is two days off (Mark), and the chief priests (Matt., Mark, Luke) and scribes (Mark, Luke) and elders (Matt) gather in the court of the high priest, Caiaphas (Matt.) and seek how to seize Jesus and kill Him (Matt., Mark, Luke), but decide not to seize Him during the festival in order to prevent a riot of the people (Matt., Mark).
• Satan enters Judas Iscariot (Luke) and Judas goes to the chief priests to betray Jesus (Matt., Mark, Luke).
Tuesday, March 23, AD 33 (Nisan 13/14)
Mount of Olives (Matt. 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-16a, Luke 22:7-13a)
• On the first day of Unleavened Bread (on the day of preparation), (Matt., Mark, Luke) when the Passover lamb is being sacrificed (Mark, Luke), Jesus directs His disciples (Matt., Mark), Peter and John (Luke), to enter the city (Matt., Mark, Luke) and go to a certain man’s house (Matt.) to a large upper room (Mark, Luke) and prepare to eat the Passover (Matt., Mark, Luke), and they depart (Mark, Luke).
Jerusalem (Matt. 26:20-35, Mark 14:16b-31, Luke 22:13b-39, John 13:1-17:26, 1 Cor. 11:23-25)
• The disciples come to the city and prepare the Passover (Mark, Luke).
• In the evening (Matt., Mark), Jesus comes to the city with the twelve (Mark).
• Before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knows His hour has come and that He should depart out of this world (John) and when the hour comes (Luke) He reclines with the apostles (Matt., Mark, Luke).
• During supper Jesus washes the disciples feet, and He finishes and reclines again (John).
• Jesus says that He desires to eat this Passover before He suffers (Luke).
• Jesus, in the night in which He is betrayed (1 Cor.), while they eat (Matt., Mark), takes bread and gives thanks (Matt., Mark, Luke, 1 Cor.), and gives it to His disciples (Matt., Mark, Luke).
• After supper (Luke, 1 Cor.) He takes the cup and gives thanks (Matt., Mark, Luke, 1 Cor.) and gives it to His disciples (Matt., Mark, Luke).
• Jesus becomes troubled in spirit (John) and testifies that one of them will betray Him (Matt., Mark, John). He tells John privately that He will dip the morsel and give it to the one who will betray Him (John).
• A dispute arises among the disciples as to which one is the greatest (Luke).
• Jesus dips the morsel and gives it to Judas Iscariot and says, “what you do, do quickly.” Satan enters Judas and immediately Judas goes out and it is night (John). Matthew and Mark place this incident before the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup.
• Jesus announces to His disciples that all of them will fall away this night and that after He is raised He will go before them to Galilee. Peter denies that he will fall away (Matt., Mark), and Jesus says to Peter that before a cock crows (twice - Mark) he will deny knowing Him three times (Matt., Mark, Luke, John). Matthew and Mark place this incident after they leave the upper room.
• Jesus tells the disciples that now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in Him, and that He is with them a little while longer, and then He will send the Holy Spirit who will teach them all things. He tells them to abide in Him, bear much fruit, and love one another, and warns them that the world will hate them. He tells them He is leaving the world and going to the Father, and that He will send the Holy Spirit, and that in a little while they will not see Him, and again in a little while they will see Him. He announces the hour has come for them to be scattered, and for the Son to be glorified. He lifts His eyes to heaven and says to the Father that the hour has come, and that He has accomplished the work He has given Him to do, and asks that He sanctify in the truth those whom He has been given and to keep them from the evil one (John).
• They sing a hymn (Matt., Mark) and as is His custom (Luke) they go out to the Mount of Olives (Matt., Mark, Luke).
Kidron Valley (John 18:1a)
• Jesus goes forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron where there is a garden.
Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-57a, Mark 14:32-53a, Luke 22:40-54a, John 18:1b-13a)
• He comes to Gethsemane with His disciples (Matt., Mark) and they enter the garden (John).
• He takes Peter, James and John with Him, and He becomes very distressed and asks them to keep watch. He goes a little beyond and prays that if possible the hour might pass Him by (Matt., Mark, Luke). An angel from heaven appears to Him and strengthens Him (Luke).
• He returns three times, and each time finds the disciples sleeping (Matt., Mark).
• He then declares the hour has come, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners (Matt., Mark, Luke). Immediately (Mark) as Jesus is still speaking, Judas comes up accompanied by a multitude with weapons (Matt., Mark, Luke, John) from the Roman cohort (John), and officers of the temple (Luke), the chief priests and elders/Pharisees (Matt., Mark, Luke, John) and scribes (Mark), and betrays Jesus with a kiss (Matt., Mark, Luke). They ask for Jesus, and Jesus replies, “I am”, and they draw back and fall to the ground (John). Peter takes out a sword and cuts off the ear of the slave of the high priest (Matt., Mark, Luke, John), but Jesus touches the ear of the slave and heals him (Luke). The disciples all flee (Matt., Mark), and Jesus is arrested (Luke, John), bound (John), and led away (Matt., Mark, Luke, John) to Caiaphas (Matt.) the high priest (Matt., Mark).
• Peter follows (Matt., Mark, Luke, John) with another disciple (John).
House of the High Priest
(Matt. 26:57b-58, 67-75, Mark 14:54, 65-72, Luke 22:54b-65, John 18:13b-27)
• Jesus is brought to the house of the high priest (Luke) and enters the court of the high priest with the other disciple (John). Jesus is brought to Annas first, father-in-law of Caiaphas the high priest (John). Annas is the former high priest and has evidently retained some of his authority as high priest.
• Peter then enters the court of the high priest (Matt., Mark, Luke, John).
• Annas questions Jesus about His disciples and His teaching, and Jesus answers him, and says that He should question those to whom He has spoken openly in the temple. An officer strikes Him (John).
• Before a cock crows (twice – Mark), Peter denies knowing Jesus three times (Matt., Mark, Luke, John).
• Jesus turns and looks at Peter (Luke).
• Peter goes out and weeps bitterly (Matt., Mark, Luke, John).
• Those holding Jesus in custody mock and beat Him (Luke). They spit at Him, beat Him and slap Him (Matt., Mark).
• Annas sends Jesus bound to Caiaphas (John).
Wednesday, March 24, AD 33 (Nisan 14/15)
House of the High Priest
(Matt. 26:59-66, 27:1-2, Mark 14:53b, 55-64, 15:1, Luke 22:66-71,23:1, John 18:28a)
• Early in the morning (Matt., Mark), when it is day (Luke) the whole Council of elders, and chief priests, and scribes (Matt., Mark, Luke) immediately (Mark) hold a consultation against Jesus to put Him to death (Matt., Mark).
• Jesus is led away to the council (Luke), and people give false testimony against Him and accuse Him of blasphemy (Matt., Mark). The high priest questions Jesus about the accusations and Jesus makes no reply (Matt., Mark). The high priest asks Him if He is the Christ, and He replies that He is the Christ. The high priest charges Jesus with blasphemy (Matt., Mark, Luke) and everyone condemns Him to death (Matt., Mark). Matthew and Mark place this interrogation the night before.
• They bind Jesus and lead Him away (Matt., Mark, John) from Caiaphas (John) and deliver Him up to Pilate (Matt., Mark, Luke) the governor (Matt.).
Praetorium (Matt. 27:11-14, Mark 15:2-5, Luke 23:2-7, John 18:28b-38)
• Jesus is led into the Praetorium, and it is early (John).
• Pontius Pilate (r. AD 26 - AD 36) goes out to the people and asks them for the accusation against Jesus (John). The council of elders and chief priests and scribes accuse Jesus (Luke) of being an evildoer (John) and of misleading the nation, not paying taxes to Caesar, and saying He is the Christ (Luke).
• Pilate enters the Praetorium, and summons Jesus (John), and Jesus stands before Pilate (Matt.). Pilate asks Jesus if He is the King of the Jews, and Jesus replies that He is (Matt., Mark, Luke, John), and says that His kingdom is not of this world (John).
• Pilate goes out again to the Jews (John) and says he finds no guilt in Him (Luke, John). The chief priests and elders accuse Jesus harshly (Matt., Mark) and insist that He stirs up the people all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem.
• Pilate questions Jesus again and Jesus makes no answer to the accusations, and Pilate is amazed (Matt., Mark).
• Pilate sends Jesus to Herod because he knows He is from Herod’s jurisdiction in Galilee (Luke).
Herod’s Palace (Luke 23:8-12)
• Herod Antipas (r. BC 4 - AD 39) questions Jesus at length, but Jesus answers nothing.
• The chief priests and scribes accuse Jesus vehemently.
• Herod and his soldiers mock Him and treat Him with contempt, and send Him back to Pilate in a gaudy robe.
Praetorium (Matt. 27:15-31a, Mark 15:6-20a, Luke 23:13-25a, John 18:39-19:12, Acts 3:14)
• Pilate summons the chief priests, and rulers, and people, and says he finds no guilt in Him, nor does Herod (Luke). He asks the multitude which prisoner he should release according to their custom (Matt., Mark, John), and they ask for a murderer (Acts), Barabbas (Matt., Mark, John). Pilate asks them what he should do with Jesus (Matt., Mark), and they disown Jesus (Acts), and cry out, “Crucify Him!” (Matt., Mark). Pilate wants to release Him (Luke), but they keep on calling out, “Crucify Him!” (Matt., Mark, Luke) A riot starts (Matt.), and they insist with loud voices, and their voices prevail (Luke). Pilate releases Barabbas (Matt., Mark, Luke), in order to please the multitude (Mark), and has Jesus scourged (Matt., Mark, John).
• The soldiers take Jesus into the Praetorium, and gather the whole Roman cohort around Him, and strip Him, and put a scarlet robe on Him, and put a crown of thorns on His head, and mock Him, spit on Him, and beat His head with a reed (Matt., Mark). The soldiers put a crown of thorns on His head and array Him in a purple robe, and mock Him and beat Him in the face (John).
• Pilate goes out again and says a third time he finds no guilt in Him (Luke, John).
• Pilate brings Him out again wearing the crown and the robe, and says he finds no guilt in Him. They cry out, “Crucify Him!” They say He makes Himself out to be the Son of God, and Pilate becomes more afraid, and brings Jesus into the Praetorium again (John).
• Pilate asks Jesus where He is from, but He does not answer (John).
• Pilate makes efforts to release Him but the Jews cry out again (John).
Pavement (Matt. 27:31a-32, Mark 15:20b-21, Luke 23:25b-31, John 19:13-17a)
• Pilate brings Jesus out and sits on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement. It is the day of preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour (John).
• Pilate’s wife sends to him as he sits at the judgment seat and says, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man.” (Matt.)
• Pilate washes his hands before the multitude, and says he is innocent of Jesus’ blood (Matt.), and pronounces sentence against Him (Luke). He delivers Him to the people to be crucified (Matt., Mark, Luke, John).
• As they come out (Matt.) and lead Him away (Mark, Luke), they press into service a passer-by to carry His cross (Matt., Mark, Luke) and place on Him the cross to carry behind Jesus (Luke). Jesus (who evidently insists on carrying His own cross) bears His own cross (John), and a great multitude of people and women follow Him (Luke). Two criminals are led away with Him to be put to death (Luke).
Golgotha
(Matt. 27:33-51,54-56, Mark 15:22-41, Luke 23:33-49,24:18, John 19:17b-30, Acts 3:15, 1 Cor. 15:3b)
• They bring Jesus to Golgotha, the Place of a Skull (Matt., Mark, Luke, John), near the city (John).
• It is the third hour (Mark) and they crucify Him, along with two robbers (Matt., Mark, Luke, John). All His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee look on from a distance (Luke). Jesus says, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke). They put above His head the charge, “The King of the Jews” (Matt., Mark, Luke, John). They try to give Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He refuses it (Matt., Mark, Luke), and they divide up His garments and cast lots for them (Matt., Mark, Luke, John). Jesus entrusts His mother into the care of His disciple, John (John).
• The people stand by and watch (Luke). Those passing by hurl abuse at Him, and the chief priests and scribes mock Him (Matt., Mark). The rulers sneer at Him, and the soldiers mock Him (Luke).
• The sun is obscured (Luke), and darkness falls over all the land from the sixth hour to the ninth hour (Matt., Mark, Luke).
• At the ninth hour Jesus cries out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt., Mark). He says “I am thirsty” and they give Him sour wine for His mouth (John). He cries out with a load voice (Matt., Mark, Luke), “It is finished (John), into Your hands I commit My Spirit! (Luke)” and breathes His last (Mark), bows His head (John), and gives up His Spirit (Matt., John). The veil of the temple is torn in two (Matt., Mark, Luke), the earth shakes, and the rocks are split (Matt.). They put to death the Prince of Life (Acts). Christ dies for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Cor.).
• No one visiting Jerusalem is unaware of the things happening here these days (Luke 24:18).
Praetorium (John 19:31)
• The Jews ask Pilate that their legs be broken, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for it is the day of preparation, and this Sabbath is a high day (the first day of Unleavened Bread).
Golgotha (John 19:32-37)
• They come and break the legs of the two thieves, but see that Jesus is dead and do not break His legs.
Praetorium (Matt. 27:57-58, Mark 15:42a, 43-45, Luke 23:50-52, John 19:38a)
• When evening comes (Matt., Mark), Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, comes to Pilate and asks for the body of Jesus (Matt., Mark, Luke, John).
• Pilate summons the centurion, and ascertains from him that Jesus is already dead (Mark), and permits Joseph to take away the body (Matt., Mark, Luke, John).
Golgotha (Matt. 27:59-61, Mark 15:42b, 46-47, Luke 23:53-55, John 19:38b-42, 1 Cor. 15:4a)
• Because it is the day of preparation (Mark, Luke, John), the day before the Sabbath (Mark), and the Sabbath is about to begin (Luke), Joseph comes and takes down the body of Jesus (Matt., Mark, Luke, John) with Nicodemus (John) and buries Him (Matt., Mark, Luke, John, 1 Cor.) in a nearby tomb (Matt., Mark, Luke, John) in the garden in the place where He was crucified (John). The women who came with Jesus out of Galilee follow after and see the tomb (Luke).
Thursday, March 25, AD 33 (Nisan 15/16)
Praetorium (Matt. 27:62-65)
• On the next day, the day after the preparation (on the first day of Unleavened Bread), the chief priests and Pharisees gather with Pilate, and inform him that Jesus had predicted He would rise again after three days. Pilate gives orders for the tomb to be made secure until the third day in order to prevent His disciples from stealing the body and saying He has risen from the dead.
Golgotha (Matt. 27:66)
• They seal and guard the tomb.
Resurrection and Ascension
Friday, March 26, AD 33 (Nisan 16/17)
Jerusalem (Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56a)
• When the Sabbath is over (not the weekly Sabbath, but the annual Sabbath, the first day of Unleavened Bread - John 19:14), Mary Magdalene and the other women buy spices so that they may come and anoint the Lord (Mark).
• The women prepare the spices and perfume (Luke).
Saturday, March 27, AD 33 (Nisan 17/18)
Jerusalem (Luke 23:56b)
• On the Sabbath the women rest.
Golgotha (Matt. 12:40, Mark 16:9a, Luke 24:46b, Acts 3:15, 1 Cor. 15:4b)
• Jesus is three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matt.).
• On the third day (Luke, 1 Cor.) God raises Jesus from the dead (Luke, Acts, 1 Cor.). Jesus rises early on the first day of the week (Mark) (at sundown following the weekly Sabbath).
Sunday, March 28, AD 33 (Nisan 18/19)
Golgotha (Matt. 28:1-4,11-15, Mark 16:2-4, Luke 24:1-2, John 20:1)
• A severe earthquake occurs, and an angel of the Lord descends from heaven and rolls away the stone. The guards shake with fear, and go into the city and report everything to the chief priests (Matt.).
• After the Sabbaths (Matt.) at early dawn on the first day of the week (Matt., Mark, Luke, John), while it is still dark (John) and the sun has risen (Mark), Mary Magdalene and the other women come to the tomb (Matt., Mark, Luke, John) with spices (Luke) and find the stone is rolled away (Mark, Luke, John).
Jerusalem (John 20:2)
• Mary Magdalene runs to Peter and John, and announces, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb…” (John).
Golgotha (Luke 24:12a, 24, John 20:3-8)
• Peter (Luke, John) and John (John) run to the tomb, and see the tomb is empty (Luke, John). Luke places this incident after the eleven are informed.
Jerusalem (Luke 24:12b, John 20:9-10)
• Peter and John return to their homes (Luke, John), but do not know that Jesus is risen from the dead (John).
Golgotha (Matt. 28:5-10, Mark 16:5-9, Luke 24:3-8,22-23, John 20:11-17)
• Mary Magdalene stands outside the tomb and weeps. She looks into the tomb and sees two angels (John). The women enter the tomb (Matt., Mark, Luke), and do not find the body of Jesus (Luke), but see two angels (or one angel – Matt., Mark) who announce that Jesus has risen (Matt., Mark, Luke), and tells them to go tell His disciples (Matt., Mark) and Peter (Mark) that He is going before them into Galilee (Matt., Mark).
• The women flee from the tomb (Matt., Mark, Luke) quickly (Matt.) with fear (Matt., Mark) and great joy (Matt.) and say nothing to anyone (Mark).
• After Jesus is risen, He first appears to Mary Magdalene at the tomb (Mark). Mary Magdalene turns and sees Jesus, and when she recognizes Him, He tells her to go tell the disciples (John).
• Jesus meets the women, and they worship Him. He tells them to take word to His brethren to leave for Galilee and there they will see Him (Matt.).
Jerusalem (Matt. 28:8b, Mark 16:10-11, Luke 24:9-11,34, John 20:18, 1 Cor. 15:5)
• The women run (Matt.) and report it (Matt., Luke) to the eleven (Luke) and to the rest of the disciples (Matt., Luke) and say they have seen a vision of angels who say He is alive (Luke).
• Mary Magdalene comes and announces to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord” (Mark, John), but they refuse to believe her (Mark).
• The Lord at some point appears to Peter (Luke, 1 Cor.).
Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13a, Luke 24:13-33a)
• On this very day, two disciples go to the village of Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem (Luke). Jesus appears to them in a different form on their way to the country (Mark). He approaches and travels with them, but they do not recognize Him (Luke).
• They approach the village and ask Jesus to stay with them, for it is almost evening and the day is nearly over. Jesus reclines with them and breaks bread and gives it to them, and they recognize Him, and He vanishes from their sight (Luke).
• They arise (Luke), and go away (Mark) and return to Jerusalem that very hour (Luke).
Jerusalem (Mark 16:13b-18, Luke 24:33b-43, John 20:19-24, 1 Cor. 15:5)
• The two disciples find the eleven gathered together with others (Luke), but Thomas is not there (John), and they report that they have seen the Lord, but the disciples do not believe them (Mark).
• When it is evening on this day, the first day of the week, (John) Jesus stands in their midst (Luke, John), and appears to the eleven (Mark, 1 Cor.) as they recline (Mark), and they rejoice (John). Jesus reproaches them for their unbelief (Mark), and says, “As the Father has sent Me, so I send you” and He breathes on them, and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John).
Monday, March 29 - Sunday, April 4, AD 33
Jerusalem (John 20:25)
• The disciples tell Thomas they have seen the Lord, but he does not believe them (John).
Sunday, April 4, AD 33 (Nisan 25/26)
Jerusalem (John 20:26-29)
• After eight days (reckoned here as Sunday to Sunday inclusive) the disciples are again inside and Jesus stands in their midst, and Thomas believes.
April/May, AD 33 (Nisan/Iyyar)
Jerusalem (Matt. 27:52-53)
• Sometime after His resurrection, the tombs are opened and the bodies of many saints are raised, and they enter the holy city and appear to many (Matt.)
Galilee (Matt. 28:16-20)
• The eleven disciples proceed to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had designated.
• The disciples see Jesus and worship Him, but some are doubtful. Jesus commissions them to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that He commands. This appearance is not mentioned in John.
Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-23)
• At night the disciples go fishing at the Sea of Tiberias, but catch nothing.
• When day breaks, Jesus manifests Himself a third time to the disciples (Peter, James, John, Thomas, Nathanael, and two others) at the Sea of Tiberias. Jesus stands on the beach, but they do not recognize Him. He instructs them to cast a net to the right of the boat, and they cast the net and struggle to haul it in because of the great number of fish. John recognizes it is the Lord, and tells Peter, and Peter swims ashore. They haul the fish ashore, and eat. No one asks Jesus who He is for they know it is the Lord.
Galilee (Acts 1:3, 1 Cor. 15:6-7)
• Jesus presents Himself alive to the apostles after His suffering over a period of 40 days (Acts). He appears to more than 500 brethren at one time, and then to James (His brother) and then to all the remaining apostles (1 Cor.). These appearances may have occurred in Galilee.
Thursday, May 6, AD 33 (Iyyar 27/28)
Jerusalem (Luke 24:44-49, Acts 1:2,4-8)
• The disciples evidently journey to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentacost (Acts).
• Jesus appears to the apostles on the day He is taken up, 40 days after His first appearance (Acts). He gathers them together (Acts) and gives them orders (Luke, Acts) not to leave Jerusalem (Acts), but to stay in the city (Luke) and wait for what the Father has promised (Acts) until they are clothed with power from on high (Luke). He says they shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now, and shall be His witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the remotest parts of the earth (Acts). He says that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke).
Bethany/Mount of Olives (Mark 16:19, Luke 24:50-52, Acts 1:9-12)
• Jesus leads the eleven out as far as Bethany (Luke).
• Jesus blesses them and departs from them (Luke). He is lifted up, and a cloud receives Him out of their sight (Acts). Jesus is received up into heaven and sits down at the right hand of God (Mark). Two men in white stand by and announce that Jesus shall return in the same way as they saw Him go into heaven (Acts).
• With joy (Luke) they return to Jerusalem (Luke, Acts) from the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s journey from Jerusalem (Acts).
Jerusalem (Acts 1:13-26)
• They enter Jerusalem and go up to the upper room.
• Peter speaks to a gathering of 120 persons about Judas Iscariot, and they cast lots to choose an apostle to replace him, and the lot falls to Matthias, and not to Barnabas.
Friday, May 7 - Saturday, May 15, AD 33 (Iyyar 28/29 - Sivan 7/8)
Jerusalem (Luke 24:49,53, Acts 1:4)
• The apostles remain in Jerusalem, (Luke, Acts) and continue to praise God in the temple (Luke).
Sunday, May 16, AD 33 (Sivan 8/9)
Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-41)
• The day of Pentacost comes (reckoned as 50 days from the first day of the week following Passover, Sunday to Sunday inclusive) and the disciples are together in one place. A noise like a violent wind fills the house, and tongues as of fire appear to them, and rest on each of them, and they are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in foreign tongues. The multitude consists of Jews from every nation, and each hears them in his own language. They marvel because the disciples are men of Galilee and yet speak in the native tongue of those of Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Cyrene, Rome, Crete, and Arabia. Peter says, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”, and about 3000 people are baptized.
May AD 34 …
Jerusalem (Acts 2:42-47, Luke 24:47)
• The apostles proclaim repentance for forgiveness of sins in His name beginning from Jerusalem (Luke). Many signs and wonders take place through the apostles, and the Lord adds to the number of believers day by day those who are being saved. Believers sell their possessions, and share them with all who are in need, and have all things in common. They continue with one mind day by day in the temple, and devote themselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, to breaking of bread, and to prayer (Acts).
Damascus (Acts 9:1-22, 1 Cor. 15:3-9)
• Last of all, as to one untimely born, Jesus appears to Saul (1 Cor.), as Saul approaches Damascus on his way to persecute believers (Acts). Saul is converted and immediately begins to proclaim the gospel (Acts). He delivers as of first importance, the message he receives from Christ, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He has appeared to many (1 Cor.).
Earth (Mark 16:20, Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8b)
• The apostles go out and preach everywhere, and the Lord works with them, and confirms the word with signs that follow (Mark). They proclaim repentance for forgiveness of sins in His name to all nations (Luke). They are His witnesses to the remotest part of the earth (Acts).
Earth (Luke 1:1-4)
• An account of the life of Christ is handed down by eyewitnesses and compiled by many.
Rome (Acts 1:1)
• Luke composes his own account of all that Jesus began to do and teach.
Earth (Matt. 28:20b)
• The Spirit of Jesus is with His disciples always even to the end of the age.